FORMER Corinthian and Erith & Belvedere boss Matt Longhurst has replaced Tony Beckingham as manager of Ryman South side East Grinstead Town.
Beckingham left the club in September to become joint-boss of league rivals Hythe Town alongside Clive Cook.
The Wasps are currently third bottom of the Ryman South and Longhurst's first game in charge will come against Beckingham and his new club Hythe on Saturday.
Longhurst reached three cup finals when in charge of Corinthian and then took Erith & Belvedere to the quarter-finals of the FA Vase. He quit the Southern Counties East League club last Friday.
Bill Manners, Lee Barnett and Sonny Gladdish will be assisting Longhurst along with Jon Difford, who has led the club in a caretaker capacity for the last three weeks.
Longhurst said: “It's a great pleasure to be appointed manager of the Wasps. It's the next step in my managerial career and one I am relishing.
“There's a great core of players already at the club and I feel we are capable of climbing the league and I can't wait to get started.”
Chairman Richard Tramontin added: “We had 30 applications for the post which reflects our status in Non-League football including some very good candidates.
“But we were impressed with Matt's track record, his football philosophy and his plans for the future and we're all looking forward to him leading us to success in the future.”
