Stags ease fan fears over new boss

In a statement on Friday, the Stags said they understood the concerns of fans over delays in naming a successor to Steve Hollick following his exit by mutual consent from the Testwood Stadium at the end of September.

After reassuring supporters that chairman Andy Straker, pictured, and vice-chairman Roy Edwards were close to naming a permanent replacement, the club said: "We continue to try to bring in what we as a club see as the best manager for AFC Totton. We understand the frustration of supporters as time continues to move on with no announcement being made.

"Our vice chairman Roy Edwards has been working very hard to resolve the issue with meetings of perspective new managers. This task has been made more difficult with the continued illness of the club chairman, which we are sure everybody understands.

"We will be talking to those in the running for the role over the weekend with a view to making an announcement, hopefully, early next week. We will not continue to move forward without a manager in position. We have been lucky enough to receive numerous applications from perspective managers who we believe can take AFC Totton forward. It is now time to move on."

The club added: "There have been plenty of rumours in the local press and we would stress that they are nothing but rumours at this time. Thank you for your patience."

Assistant manager Andy Darnton, who has been in temporary charge of first team affairs since Hollick stood down following the club's poor start to the season, takes the helm of the third-from-bottom Stags at high-flying Mangotsfield United in EVO-STIK League Southern Division One South & West action on Saturday.

Images courtesy of www.afctotton.com

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