IAN KING has vowed to haul Coalville Town back into the promotion mix after leaving league rivals Barwell to take over the Southern Premier Central side.
King led Barwell to their highest ever league finish of eighth last year on limited resources, while the Ravens finished level on points with champions Tamworth, only to miss out on the play-offs.
But it's not quite gone to plan so far this season for the Ravens, who are languishing in mid-table, two places below King's Canaries, although they do have five games in hand owing to their run in the Isuzu FA Trophy.
As a result, popular manager Adam Stevens was relieved of his duties after five-and-a-half years in charge and this week replaced him with King, who informed Barwell of his decision to quit after last Saturday's 2-1 win at Leiston.
Starting at the Birmingham City Academy, King formed part of the coaching staff at Leamington, Worcester City and Bromsgrove Sporting before going on to manage Daventry Town and then Barwell in May 2022.
He will be assisted at Owen Street by former Coventry City and Everton full-back Brian Borrows, while player/coach Steve Towers remains.
“It's a fresh challenge for me and a fresh challenge for the players but it's something Brian and I are looking forward to,” King said. “There is an excellent squad of players here who, in the past few seasons, have always been up there, in and around the play-offs.
“The opportunity to work with a really good group of players and hopefully move that forward was certainly an attraction.
“Having played here with different teams, I know the crowd really get behind the team and almost suck the ball into the goal, so that's something that will be a help and something I'm looking forward to being involved with.”
● Damian Crossley has left NPL West strugglers 1874 Northwich after just three months in charge.
The former Warrington Rylands coach took up the reins of the Greens in December, replacing Wayne Goodison and Paul Bowyer.
In his 11 games in charge, 1874 lost eight and drawn three, leaving them bottom of the table.
