Massey installed at Colston Avenue

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Stuart Massey was named as the new manager of Ryman Premier Carshalton Athletic on Sunday.

Massey has been working alongside Ian Hazel for the past two weeks at Colston Avenue. He takes the reins for the first time on Tuesday when the Robins travel to Harrow Borough’s Earlsmead hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Kingstonian.

The 49-year-old was at Sutton United, Crystal Palace and Oxford United as a player before managing Chipstead, Sutton United and Whyteleafe, pictured.

Hazel, who took over from Tommy Williams in October, is not leaving the club but will return to overseeing the successful academy. He stood down with a record of five wins and fours draws from 18 outings.

Carshalton Athletic Chairman Paul Dipre believes the club’s new manager shares his vision on developing youth and hailed his predecessor Hazel for laying the foundations for a set-up that saw the club awarded a silver medal by UEFA last year as the second best community club in Europe and being named as the FA National Community Club of the Year.

Dipre said: "Ian ran the first team because he has a great love for this club. He is a talented coach and manager who has laid the foundations of a capable young squad which has given some of the best teams in this division a run for their money.

"I am pleased to welcome Stuart and he shares our values and ambitions, namely in developing and prioritising our own home grown youngsters. So we have a new manager, but our direction as a club remains unchanged. I am sure the fans will join me in giving Stuart their full support in his new role."

Image courtesy of www.theleafe.co.uk