Long wait for new boss is over

Langdown was unveiled on Tuesday as the successor to Steve Hollick, nearly two months after his predecessor left the Stags by mutual consent at the end of September following their poor start to the EVO-STIK League Division One South & West campaign.

The former Team Solent boss, who's also worked for Havant & Waterlooville and was head of sports science for the Cherries, is a lecturer by day in Biomechanics & Performance at Southampton Solent University. A UEFA B coach, Langdown guided Team Solent to promotion into the Wessex League as BUCSC Champions and also lifted the Southampton Senior Cup and league cup during a successful two-year reign.

Langdown's appointment came after AFC Totton's officials reassured fans at the weekend that they were close to appointing a new manager at the Testwood Stadium, pictured, after the long delay in naming a successor to Hollick. Langdown is looking forward to his new challenge of managing in the EVO-STIK League Southern and quickly making his mark on his third from bottom side, starting on Saturday when they host North Leigh.

He said: “I’m excited about leading the challenge to develop and progress the team. Throughout this process it has become clear that the club is in good hands, with good people, committed to driving the club forward. This is a great opportunity, at the right club, to have a competitive, energetic and entertaining football team and I’m proud to start this new chapter as manager of AFC Totton.”

AFC Totton chairman Andy Straker is delighted to have finally filled their managerial hot-seat and has told fans that he believes Langdown will prove to have been worth the wait.

In a statement on the club's website, he said: “We made an announcement last week to our supporters explaining the delay in making an appointment. In that announcement, we explained that recruiting the correct person was far more important than just rushing into recruiting a new manager. We believe we have made the best appointment and we look forward to Louis taking us forward as a club."

Stags vice-chairman Roy Edwards said: “It’s been a difficult time since Steve Hollick left the club but I know that the time we have taken to find our new manager is time very well spent. Louis has experience at football clubs far higher up the divisions than AFC Totton and he will use that experience to take us forward."

Image courtesy of AFC Totton

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