New Year reverse triggers Di Paola departure

Hastings United have started the hunt to appoint a new manager after Dominic Di Paola stood down in the wake of the club's 2-0 defeat at fellow Ryman South strugglers Hythe Town on New Year's Day.

Di Paola, pictured, left Sussex County League East Preston to take the helm at the Pilot Field in October as the successor to Terry White. With United targeting promotion at the start of the season, he stepped down after an indifferent start to the campaign.

The 33-year-old won five trophies in four years at East Preston from 2011 and was the unanimous choice of a selection panel at the U's to replace White.

Di Paola and his three-man backroom team of Jan Miller, Ian Browne and Adam Westwood experienced back-to-back wins against Guernsey and East Grinstead Town in his first two games at the helm but oversaw just three more victories in fourteen subsequent fixtures to leave the U's in twentieth position in the league table.

The club said the reverse at Reachfields had triggered Di Paola's decision to bring his brief tenure to a conclusion. While officials consider their options, Mark Stapley and John Masters have the toughest possible starts as caretakers after agreeing to hold the fort, Burgess Hill Town next up at home on Saturday.

In a statement on their website announcing his departure on Friday, officials thanked Di Paola and promised to keep supporters updated.

"The club would like to thank him [Di Paola] and his team for their efforts and wish them all well in their future endeavours," said the club. "Mark Stapley and John Masters will kindly be looking after first team affairs when still unbeaten title favourites Burgess Hill Town visit the Pilot Field on Saturday, and the club will make further announcements in due course."

Image courtesy of www.eastprestonfc.co.uk

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