FOOTBALL: Worthing United appoint Stuart Smith as their new boss

The 34-year-old had a successful spell in charge of former Sussex Sunday League side, AC Azzurri, and has also managed Littlehampton Reserves, and was assistant-boss at Littlehampton until the start of this season.

He replaces player-boss Paul Curtis, who left United two weeks ago.

Smith said: "I've always wanted to be a County manager, particularly in Division 1, and it's something I've been after for a while.

"Over recent seasons, United have only stayed up due to the failure of other clubs meeting the criteria to come up. My primary objective is to avoid relegation legitimately, and to build a side.

"The club's got a few problems at the moment with players not playing, but I know quite a lot of them from when they played for me before at Azzurri.

"I'll try to contact all of them, and see if they want to be involved.

"It's quite a sizeable job, but I'm really relishing it and want to get in like-minded players who are up for the challenge."

United co-chairman Rob McAlees said: "Stuart knows a lot of players, and knows what we are looking for.

"He was keen to work here, and our objective is for him to keep us in this division.

"It's nowhere near impossible, and with a couple of wins, we'll be up in mid-table. We've still got plenty of time to get ourselves going this season."

Smith is unlikely to be involved for United in their Sussex Senior Cup tie at home to Littlehampton on Saturday (September 20).

He is still registered as a player for Littlehampton, where he started the season, so United will probably need to put a seven-day approach in for him.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]