Following notification of first team manager Ryan Lights intention to resign at the end of the 2022/23 season, myself, the committee along with Ryan discussed the way forward for the club and concluded over time that continuity, stability and player pathways were of utmost importance if we wish to continue on the same trajectory that Ryan has set us on.
With this criteria in mind we are delighted to announce promotions from within the club and can confirm that following their huge success whilst in charge of the clubs u18 and u23 set ups, John Wright and Shane Lovell have been appointed First Team Manager and First Team Coach respectively, taking the helm for the Pirates in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division for the 2023/24 season
John and Shane have been instrumental in taking our newly formed u23s development team to runners up in the SCFL in their first year, and are on target to match those achievements again this season. More importantly during this time, 11 players from the u18’s and u23’s development squads have made their first team debuts, with many more hugely talented players waiting in the wings.
John joined us three seasons ago after a successful spell of youth coaching, and alongside Dale Sweetman took our newly formed u18 team on a two-year unbeaten league run, including a memorable run to the final qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup all culminating in the champion of champions trophy in May 2022.
Shane, an excellent coach, has a degree in football coaching and performance, spent time at Swindon Town Academy as their performance analyst, before taking on successful roles with both the u18s and u23s, having a major impact on their success over the last 3 seasons.
Both have been heavily involved with the first team over the past two seasons after our promotion to the SCFL Premier Division, the club will support them wholeheartedly.
Collectively we are all very proud of our club and how it is evolving, we look forward to the brand of football John and Shane will endeavour to bring and wish them the best of luck
Graham Cox
For and on behalf of Bexhill United Football Club