Hunt starts for successor to Akurang

Akurang, pictured, left Scraley Road on Tuesday after securing just two wins among four defeats and a single draw so far this season, a 4-2 league success over Soham Town Rangers and a 2-1 win at Redbridge in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.

Appointed last December as the successor to Keith Wilson with the club in the bottom three after working as a player-coach at Maldon & Tiptree, the 34-year-old guided Swifts to a 12th placed finish last term and a 0-0 draw on Saturday in his final game in charge at Barkingside.

Akurang's coaching staff, led by Mark Ashford in a caretaker-manager role and assisted by Gavin Dawes, took charge hours after his departure was announced for Tuesday night's 3-2 reverse at home to Great Wakering Rovers.

In a statement on their website, officials said they would issue a further statement on their vacant manager's post later in the week.

Akurang was no stranger to Swifts. Having plundered 31 goals in 45 appearances during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, he was a firm fans` favourite at Scraley Road.

After starting his footballing career on the youth books of Chelsea and Luton Town, he enjoyed a spell in the Football League with Barnet after helping Dagenham & Redbridge to promotion into the professional game in 2007.

In Non-League, the striker has scored goals for the likes of Leiston, Thurrock, Hitchin Town, Braintree Town, Chelmsford City, Bishop`s Stortford, Histon and Boreham Wood.

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