Barnes to be the pilot at the Pilot

Hastings United last night announced their replacement for Gary Elphick, and the new name at Pilot Field is that of Paul Barnes, who takes over with immediate effect.

United, who have been searching for a replacement for Elphick since May 5th, made the following statement over several posts on social media:

'We received several applications for the post but feel that Paul has the outstanding qualities as a coach to be able to build a team worthy of wearing the Hastings Badge and take the club forwards on all fronts. Paul holds a UEFA Coaching A Licence and has previous experience managing in the National League South with Dulwich Hamlet as well as previous roles at Welling United and Margate.

Paul and Craig will implement a new structure where we will have a satellite training facility in South London so that training can be split between Hastings and Greenwich during the week on non match days. This should ease travel times spent during the week for our more London based players as well as solving an issue of Hastings not having enough suitable pitches within the Borough , which currently hinders our progress.

Paul and Craig will now shape their squad for the job in hand in the Isthmian League Premier, so please let’s get behind them, and everyone at the Club, so that we may enjoy more of the success that we all crave.'

Paul took the hot seat at Dulwich Hamlet in mid October, following a month as interim boss. He departed Champion Hill in March. He was last a Pitching In Isthmian League boss with Staines Town, a role he left in January 2021. He had previously been the manager of Greenwich Borough- he took over from Gary Alexander and steered the club to the South Division Playoff Semi-Finals- and has also worked at Dover, Ashford United and Guildford City.

Craig Stone, who has been with the club since the summer of 2019 and was a big part of their promotion to our top flight and their good form last season, will become Paul's Assistant- but will be continuing to play. He made forty two appearances last season.

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