Holiday will soon be over for returning Wilson

Garry Wilson is back at the helm of Hastings United and looking forward to picking up where he left off at the Ryman South club.

After managing the Arrows in only second post back in the late 1990s, Wilson, pictured, was named as the successor to the departed Nigel Kane on Bank Holiday Monday, four months after parting company with Lewes in February where he'd been in charge since the summer of 2013.

Kane, who succeeded Dominic Di Paola in January, left The Pilot Field at the end of turbulent season, a ten point haul from his side's final five outings securing the club's Ryman League status.

In a statement released by the Arrows, officials confirmed that Danny Bloor, Wilson's long-term number two, has been appointed in the same role and would oversee preparations for the season with former Queens Park, Stranraer and Scottish U18s defender Wilson currently away on holiday.

After kicking off his managerial career at St Leonards, Wilson had spells as both assistant manager and manager at The Pilot Field from 1995 to 1998 during the club's previous incarnation as Hastings Town, winning the Southern League Cup and the Sussex Senior Cup.

He then moved on to Eastbourne Borough where he built on his growing reputation in Non-League football during a 13 year spell that saw him orchestrate the club’s meteoric rise from Sussex County League to the Conference Premier.

Wilson, who earned six promotions along the way, said: "I am very much looking forward to returning to the club where it all started for me in England, and where I believe that I have unfinished business."

Officials say Wilson was appointed after the club received a considerable number of high calibre applications and narrowed the candidates down to a shortlist of three who were invited for interview.

Hastings United chairman Dave Ormerod said: "We had some outstanding candidates for the post but the Directors were unanimous in their belief that Garry was the best fit for the role, in terms of what the Board was looking for. I am sure that supporters will join the directors in welcoming Garry aboard."

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