U21 boss still needed to complete new team

After confirming that manager Tony Beckingham was staying on as first-team manager to lead them into the new Ryman South campaign in August, East Grinstead Town are on the lookout for a new U21 manager.

Former Holmesdale, Lingfield, Phoenix Sports and Croydon manager Beckingham, pictured, was re-appointed last week as part of a major restructuring of the football operation at East Court with the Wasps preparing to enter a side into the Ryman U21 League next season.

With the the club also getting ready for their second season in the Ryman after Beckingham guided them to safety in April, officials are looking for coach to back up their commitment to developing locally-based players for first team football.

As well as Beckingham, the successful candidate will also work with Ian Nicholls, who's joined the Sussex club in a new role as head of youth development to oversee the club's U21s, U18s and younger age group teams.

Nicholls, a former Wasps youth player, brings a wealth of experience from working at a number of Premier League club academies, nationally acclaimed schools programmes and long established development centres.

Beckingham has also restructured his own management team with Ken McCreadie returning for a second spell as his number two having worked as a first-team coach back in 2009 in the Sussex County League.

His backroom team has also been strengthened by the arrival of coach Darren Anslow. Anslow, a UEFA A licensed coach, has considerable experience of Kent football, having managed Cray Wanderers, Sevenoaks Town, Beckenham Town and Cray Valley before a spell with Deal Town in the Kent Premier League last season.

In a statement on their website, Wasps officials also confirmed that director of football Ray Tolfrey, goalkeeping coach Tony Prime and physio Kevin Goldsmith were also set to carry on to complete their football management team for the 2015-16 campaign.

Beckingham, who was appointed six months ago as the successor to Simon Funnell and is preparing for a return to training at the end of June, said: “Unfortunately JP Collier has left the club but I am delighted with the appointment of Ken and Darren, who have added experience and know-how to my backroom team.

“The priority when I came back to the club was to make sure we remained as a Ryman League club and that was achieved. Next season is going to be tough for sure, but with a year’s experience under our belts hopefully we can push on.”

East Grinstead Town chairman Richard Tramontin said: “It has taken a lot of hard work to get the team in place for next season but we are delighted with both the structure we have in place and the personnel we have appointed. We are looking forward to the new season with real optimism.”

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