Former Ramsgate, Corinthian, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Erith & Belvedere manager Matt Longhurst named as Sheppey United‘s new director of football

Sheppey United have announced the appointment of a new director of football.

Matt Longhurst has management experience at numerous clubs in Kent, including a second spell at Erith & Belvedere last season where he guided them to promotion from the SCEFL Premier Division after joining the club late in the campaign.

Longhurst quit the Deres earlier this month with the side struggling at the wrong end of Isthmian South East table.

There’s a new challenge now ahead for the former Ramsgate boss as he moves to Holm Park, looking to help keep the progression going at a team that are moving steadily in the right direction.

Ernie Batten had been in the position of director of football before stepping back into the management role while Tony Hughes took over as chairman of the club.

Longhurst has outlined his new role at the club, saying: “There’s lots to be added to an already great project. I will be introducing myself and building relationships across the youth section from the under-23s down to the new academy nights over the next few weeks.

“I’ll be working with Ernie and his first team staff when it comes to assisting on the first team player recruitment and also opposition analysis – and then from there looking again at helping to enhance the great work already going on at the club.

“It’s a new title for me, which involves lots of work and experiences I have carried out at previous clubs as we aim to combine the business side off the pitch with the football being played on it by dovetailing all of it to make us the hub for the community – as well as produce players for ourselves and levels beyond whilst maintaining opportunity for all levels of the game both boys, girls, men and women.”