Pic: Southport FC
FORMER Northwich Victoria boss and Stevenage assistant Dino Maamria has been announced as the new manager of Southport.
The 44-year-old Tunisian replaces Paul Carden who left the Sandgrounders by mutual consent on Monday. Maamria becomes the club's fifth boss in 30 months.
He spent three spells at Southport as a player and was manager of Northwich Victoria for a year, helping the club away from Conference Premier relegation in 2007-08.
The former Burnley, Doncaster and Leigh RMI striker then returned to old club Stevenage as first team coach but left in 2012 to follow boss Graham Westley to Preston North End.
He was back at Stevenage in March 2013, again alongside Westley, and served as assistant manager until the boss' departure at the end of last season.
Maamria is now back in management and faces a tough test with struggling Southport third bottom of the National League and five points from safety.
He said: “I am very grateful to the chairman (Charlie Clapham) on giving me the opportunity to manage this great club.
“Obviously the short term goal is to get to know the players and to prepare to win matches starting on Saturday. I am aiming to build the club in the longer term and to take it to a better place.
“I want everyone to enjoy it and let's set off on an exciting journey, this club has tremendous potential. It is great to be back.”
Chairman Clapham added: “I have known Dino a long time, our supporters know Dino's strengths and the excellent career he has had as player, coach, assistant manager and manager.
“Dino is a very ambitious young manager, with a wealth of experience, who has real belief, he can and will take the club forward. Dino is determined, dedicated and driven.
“With those credentials he has a two-and-a-half year contract, so we have put the foundations together to push us up the Vanarama National League and compete for League Two status. That's Dino's remit, which he has set himself and that's what we all want.”
