DANNY COWLEY has left Concord Rangers to make the step up and take over as manager of Vanarama Conference side Braintree Town.
The Iron have been looking for a new boss after Alan Devonshire decided not to sign a new deal with the club earlier this month.
Cowley had been in charge of the Beachboys for eight years, leading their rise up the Non-League Pyramid with three promotions. They finished seventh in the Conference South.
Danny's brother Nicky who serves as his assistant will also be making the trip across Essex.
Danny Cowley said: “Concord means everything to me and I leave with a heavy heart. But not many managers get to leave on a high, and that is what I am doing.
“I just feel this is the right time for me to move on. I think I have been loyal to Concord but now I need to think about my own ambitions. I could not turn down this opportunity to test myself as a young manager.”
Concord chairman Antony Smith added: “The inevitable has happened, as we all knew it would at some stage. We knew at some point the right job in Danny's eyes would come along.
“I have nothing but good to say about these two lads and what they have achieved for our club. We will remain firm friends as them and their family have been a big part of Concord the last eight years. They will be hugely missed by everyone here.
“And – as I told them both last night through a few tears – I sincerely wish them all the best. But we have to move on and look forward to a new era at the club – with a new manager in charge.”
