Temporary duo handed permanent posts

Anthony Storey and Cliff Cant have been named as the new joint managers of Horsham after guiding the Hornets to a vital 2-1 home win over East Grinstead Town in Ryman South.

After local councillors rejected the club's plans to move into a new home this week and end six years playing as nomads, the duo were rewarded for putting the smiles back on the faces of Hornets fans at Gorings Mead on Wednesday night.

Storey and Cant won the chance to lead the club's fight for survival on a permanent basis after impressing the Hornet’s board of directors since taking over at the start of January in the wake of Gary Charman's departure after just over a year at the helm.

Storey, who signed for Charman as a player in December, put himself forward for the role before bringing in former Hornet Cant. Since teaming up, the pair have secured two wins from four games, Tom Hughes scoring the midweek winner, pictured, that clinched their appointment.

The Hornets are still two points adrift at the foot of the table despite the midweek win but chief executive and secretary John Lines is backing their new joint managers to lead them to safety ahead of Saturday's chance to secure back-to-back league wins at the start of their tenure at Walton Casuals.

On Thursday, Lines told www.wscountytimes.co.uk: "After four games in charge as temporary custodians of the manager’s position the board have handed Cliff Cant and Anthony Storey the role on a permanent basis as joint managers.

"Three out of the four performances they have directed whilst in temporary charge have seen an immense improvement in levels of play and attitude. The players they have brought in have helped turn the tide and full credit must go to them for that.

"Stoz and Cliff have put a huge amount of time and effort into pulling things together and we can now see a clear and positive pathway out of the relegation battle."

Storey added: "The club offered it to us until the end of the season as they have been quite happy with what we have shown in the last four games. Nothing changes really, we’ll take every game as it comes and one at a time to try and keep the club in the league. That’s the aim.

"We are delighted, absolutely, but we have a tough job on our hands. We have got to be fearless and get the boys well organised and well drilled."

Horsham chairman Kevin Borrett is vowing to fight on after local councillors rejected plans on Tuesday night that would have seen the Hornets move into a new home.

Despite the recommendations of planning officers, Horsham Ditsrict Council voted 13-9 with one abstention against plans to build a new community stadium at Hop Oast and a housing development that would fund the project.

The Hornets have led a nomadic existence since leaving Queens Street in 2008.

Image courtesy of Horsham FC/John Lines

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