Brickies appoint a temporary manager- on what they hope will be a permanent basis

Aslan’s the man for Sittingbourne


Aslan Odev has been named caretaker boss at Sittingbourne following the resignation of Nick David at the weekend.

A committee meeting on Tuesday evening unanimously agreed to give Odev the chance to step up from his role as coach. Odev is a chief coach at Soccer Elite.

Odev will be in charge for the first time when Sittingbourne visit South Park on Saturday, but will be taking training on Thursday. It is expected that the majority of players will remain with the club and the other backroom staff have all stayed.

Secretary John Pitts said: “Given the strength of the candidates who’ve applied there’s a lot of pressure on Aslan and he knows that.”

A number of applications for the vacant managers job have been received, even though the vacancy has not been advertised. Pitts continued; “For so many names to come forward before the job has been advertised proves we’re looked at as a big club, which we want to be, although we’re determined to go at our own pace.

“Aslan’s caretaker manager. How long for depends on results but we’re looking at the rest of the season.

He’s on probation. If he loses every game then obviously we’d have to consider it again but we really don’t want to disrupt things too much. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to be signing a load of players for a couple of months- we’d rather get to the end of the season and start a with a new broom.

“We’re a club with a tradition of giving people their break in management - Richard Brady (former Manager and now chairman of Leatherhead), Gary Abbott, Mark Beeney (ex Leeds Utd and Brighton goalkeeper and now a full time coach at Chelsea), Matt Wyatt, Nick Davis - and in general it’s worked out well.

We had no hesitation in letting Aslan have a go.”

Where next?

Billericay hit top spot on a night of late goals and unlikely comebacks New leaders in the Premier Division on a topsy-turvy Tuesday- and a first minute, debut goal for the Tanners.
Monday transfer news Two in for Towners, one for Nuts and Bolts

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe