Herne Bay chairman Matt Barman names vastly-experienced defender Liam Friend as James Collins’ successor at the Isthmian South East side

A new boss has been named by Herne Bay chairman Matt Barman.

Experienced defender Liam Friend will replace James Collins at the Bay helm ahead of the 2025/26 season.

A club legend at Folkestone where he made almost 550 appearances under Neil Cugley, the role will be a first managerial position for the 37-year-old at Isthmian South East side Herne Bay. He first joined the Winch’s Field club in the summer of 2023.

Captain Friend had come close to taking his spot in the hot-seat as Steve Lovell departed in January.

While he narrowly missed out to Collins on that occasion, he has got the job this summer.

“When Steve left, we went out to market, which I suppose is the right word for it,” said Barman, talking on a club podcast. “Being a club of our stature, we were inundated with applicants for the job. It was 70 or more, I believe it was.

“We delivered our best efforts to get that down to five. I understand everyone is on a journey and, with everyone that comes here, they come here for a little bit of their own journey.

Boss Collins on Bay exit

“Everyone that’s here is on their own journey and that’s one thing that I’m learning this year. Not everyone is the same, everyone sees things differently.

“In terms of the decisions we have to make as a board, or for me as a chairman, I’ll carry the can on anything like that.

“Have we made the decision that we think is right for the club? Not ‘Is it right for the club?’. Only time tells that. But ‘Is our intention and is our logic to pick the right candidate?’.

“We had six in. We sat and deliberated and [vice-chairman] John Bathurst, who has been interviewing people all of his life - or certainly all around his footballing career - I remember him saying they’re the six best we’ve