Pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO
JODY BROWN will remain as Heybridge Swfits boss for next season after positive talks with the club's board of directors.
Brown returned for his second spell in charge of Swifts in October and led the club to Ryman North safety after their final day victory over Phoenix Sports.
The manager's future was up in the air but following discussions with chairman Craig Riches and the rest of the board, Brown has decided to stay at Scraley Road.
He took Swifts into the Ryman North play-offs during his first spell but left at the end of the 2013-14 season to join Grays Athletic and then Welling United.
The move to Grays came just six months after taking the reins at Heybridge but Brown is now committed to the club for the long term.
He said: “It was always my intention to try and build something at Heybridge Swifts, rather than work as hard as we did to overcome the obstacles of the past six months, only to move on at the first sign of interest from higher in the Pyramid. I've done that before.
“The important thing for me was that the club wanted to continue its evolution on and off the field, not overnight, but that we all shared the same long-term views.
“We've proven to be an excellent environment for young players to develop and excel even whilst in a relegation battle, and that is something that is fundamental to my coaching philosophy.
“If we get it right, all work together, and build on the experiences of the past six months, we could succeed in meeting our goals on and off the field sooner than expected.”
Chairman Craig Riches added: “I'm pleased that Jody is very keen to build on the young squad that showed it's qualities through a very tough season.”
Meanwhile, director of football Steve Pitt, who joined the club the same time as Brown, has decided to step down with immediate effect.
