Glash’s having a bash at Rams

By Robin Jones

IT’S A RAMS RAID: AFC Croydon Athletic, in yellow, have appointed Jermaine McGlashan, inset, as their new manager

PICTURE: Every Second Media

FORMER Football League favourites Jermaine Mc-Glashan and Chris Zebroski have quit Combined Counties South outfit Fleet Town – to become Stormzy’s new top management duo at AFC Croydon Athletic.

McGlashan, the ex-Cheltenham Town, Gillingham, Swindon, Aldershot and Southend United winger took over as boss of the Hampshire club back in November with Zebroski, the former-Millwall, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers striker as his assistant.

The pair steered the Calthorpe Park club to safety and enjoyed a promising start to this campaign, prompting league rivals Croydon to pounce.

The Rams are one of the most high-profile Non-League clubs in the country, after superstar rapper Stormzy, Ivory Coast international and Premier League footballer Wilfried Zaha and former Crystal Palace head of care Danny Young took over the south London club back in June.

But a disappointing start to the new campaign forced the leading trio to part company with joint managers Kevin Raynes and Lee Roots last month with Michael Kamara taking interim charge of team affairs.

McGlashan, 35, who is also an academy coach at Gillingham, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be named the new manager of AFC Croydon Athletic, a club close to where I grew up and one I’ve always kept an eye on over the years.

“I’m happy to come in at such an exciting time for the club on and off the field.”

And the former winger was full of praise for Fleet, who gave him the opportunity to cut his managerial cloth.

In a statement, he wrote: “I want to thank Fleet for giving me my first opportunity and for trusting me at a tough time on the pitch.

“I came in and said I’d keep the club up and help to re-connect the community and change the culture.

“I can leave feeling I not only achieved that in the 11 months I had been there, but left Fleet in a better position than when I entered the building.

“[I’ve loved] creating pathways with pro clubs, developing many players who have gone on to play professionally, develop youth-team players making their debuts this season and growing this fanbase of what I feel is a sleeping giant.”

Co-owner Young said: “I am delighted that Jermaine has accepted the role and look for- ward to a long and successful time with the club. He has a wealth of experience and is Croydon born so is very familiar with the area.”

● Colliers Wood United have appointed Terry Savage as their new manager in a bid to save their Combined Counties Premier South season.

Savage, who had been under 23s and under 18s manager at Raynes Park Vale, replaces Ben Ewing, who resigned after last Saturday’s 5-1 defeat away to basement club Epsom & Ewell.