Brown boosts his backroom

New Heybridge Swifts manager Jody Brown has moved swiftly to strengthen his touchline team in Ryman North following his return to the helm.

Brown, who guided Swifts to a 2-1 victory in the FA Trophy's Preliminary Round at Southern League Aylesbury on Saturday only days after returning to Scraley Road as the successor to Cliff Akurang, has brought in former Colchester United and Swifts player Paul Abrahams as his number two and Danny Clare as his goal-keeping coach.

Abrahams left Brantham Athletic to team up with Brown again after working as his assistant at Halstead Town and Redbridge while Clare was on the coaching staff at National League South Concord Rangers.

In a statement on the Swifts website, Brown said: "We're looking to build the most professional environment we can and are promising that to players - so acquiring the right staff was absolutely key.

Jody Brown

Jody Brown

"Having spent the last four months working alongside Danny at Concord, I felt he had much more to offer then simply being a goalkeeping coach. He's been part of a staff that had been promoted from the Essex Senior league to the Conference South.

"That experience needs to be tapped into, and he has a tremendous work ethic to go with it. He's managed at reserve team level, and I felt the chance to assist me could be a natural progression for him.

"His recent record of developing goalkeepers is very good too, with one progressing to the England C squad and another signing for Swansea. He's a great acquisition for the club, one I hope will be a really important part of our future.

"Paul Abrahams was my assistant at Halstead Town and Redbridge, where we took over in a similar situation to the one which we find ourselves in now.

"He's got great standards, and obvious playing experience, which is invaluable around players. We have mutual respect for one another and Paul has also worked with Steve Pitt before.

"His recent managerial experience at Brantham Athletic is another strength, and I know he will be able to take lots of responsibility, and work closely with players and our preparation."

Before leaving in 2014, Brown led Swifts to the play-offs after replacing Mark Hawkes in December 2013.

After leaving in the summer to take over at Grays Athletic in the Ryman Premier, he went on to manage Welling United in the Football Conference.

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Where next?

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