Okay says yes to coaching role

The UEFA B coach, pictured, was named as assistant manager at Julius Martin Lane over the weekend following the departure of Lloyd Groves from the Ryman North's Greens.

Okay left AFC Sudbury following their relegation from the Ryman League's top flight. The 32-year-old former England C and Ipswich Town youth star has been registered to play but is unlikely to figure in 2017 as he is awaiting an operation for a serious knee injury that cut short his Sudbury career to just five appearances after arriving from Cambridge City.

Striker Mason took charge of the Greens in December 2016 following the departures of joint-bosses Dave Theobald and Robbie Nightingale to Cambridge City. Groves, who stepped up to become his number two last season after arriving from Godmanchester Rovers, gave up his managerial role to concentrate on playing.

In a club statement welcoming his successor, the defender told fans: “I want to take the opportunity in thanking the club for giving me the chance to have such a major involvement in what we achieved last year. I am standing down as assistant manager as I don’t have the time to commit to the role. For me I want to concentrate on playing as at twenty-six I have my coaching days ahead of me.”

Image courtesy of afcsudbury.com

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