Ryman League Division One North club Potters Bar Town have announced the appointment of Adam Lee as their new manager and Mike Smee as assistant-manager and coach.

Lee took over as manager at Wingate & Finchley in 2003/04 having been assistant to Tommy Cunningham.

He left in 2007/08 to join Enfield Town as joint-manager.

Joining him is Mike Smee, who is returning to Parkfield from Enfield Town having previously been involved with the youth team set-up at Potters Bar.

Chairman Peter Waller expressed his delight and on behalf of the club at appointing the pair: “Having to appoint a new manager in mid-season is always very difficult.

“I was delighted that the number of applicants reached well into double figures and the club`s potential was evident to all those who applied. My thanks go to all those who applied for the position and I wish them well.

“We are lucky, at this stage of the season, to be able to take on a manager like Adam Lee, who has considerable managerial experience and knowledge of football at this level, who knows the league, who knows the players and can help us build for the future.

“In Mike Smee I believe we have appointed a bright, young, ambitious coach with a proven record in youth development as well as being capable of bringing the best out of more experienced players. He has gained the experience, since he was last with us.

“Both of them know a lot of good, young players who just want the chance to play Ryman football. We think the two together will make the perfect team for Potters Bar Town.”

Waller also expressed his gratitude to caretaker-manager Mickey Leslie who took over the reins temporarily following Steve Browne’s surprise departure.

“Everyone recognises that Mickey did a great job since he joined to assist Steve Browne and we are extremely grateful that he committed to seeing out the last two games. He said the time was not right to continue in the position and I respect that honesty. We are sorry to see him leave and would like to wish him well for the future.”

As for the players, Waller added: “We have a good squad, that are playing well and despite the upheaval and lack of a manager played well again at Northwood. We will get through the next couple of games with some changes probably, but then we will see the team and club move on.”

Stevenage confirmed one month loans for three of the junior pros - Liam McDevitt goes to Hitchin, whilst Zak Burke and George Brinkman both go to Ware.

The club are circulating regional clubs tomorrow to inform them Jack Bradshaw, Luke Cole and Elliot Buchanan are all available for loan.

Brentwood Town manager Carl Griffiths is definitely staying with the Ryman League Division One North club and will reject any overtures to take over the vacant manager's job at Blue Square South Braintree Town (Ground pictured left).

Griffiths, who took over at the Arena in May and has re-built the side to be currently serious promotion challengers, spent a season as a player and assistant-manager at Cressing Road.

He said he has "been flattered" to have been linked with a return to the club following the departure of manager Lee Patterson late last week.

"I'm staying with Brentwood and I'm not moving anywhere," he said. "I love it here and I believe in everything in what we are doing and I've no intention of moving.

"I've already had several calls from people in the game about the vacancy and it's quite an honour to be linked with it and also that of the vacant Bishop`s Stortford job but I'm not interested.

"I've a great backroom team, got the players I wanted and everyone at the club, from the chairman down to the supporters, are fantastic and I wouldn't want to spoil it all."

Griffiths, who spent the 2006/07 season at Braintree as a player and assistant to the then manager George Borg, admitted that one day he would like to perhaps manage at a higher level such as a full Conference side.

"Flattered though I am at being linked to these jobs, I'm still learning the job from the manager's side and we have a great thing going here," he declared.

"Who knows that perhaps in a couple of years or so, I might be tempted to manage at a higher level and that's always been my aim but now the Braintree and any possible other jobs are all too early in that respect.

"My main, immediate priority is at Brentwood Town and we are sitting handily at present with two games in hand on others and nicely positioned.

"I think the promotion places will go to two of the current top five clubs which includes ourselves and I'm determined to continue challenging for one of those two top spots come next May."

AFC Wimbledon youth stars Michael Peacock and Dean Mason are set to join Northwood on loan on Thursday.

It's expected that the duo will sign a deal with the Ryman Division One North outfit in time for their clash against Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday.

"It was always our plan to give the young boys a month or two at another club around Christmas so that they can gain valuable first-team experience," manager Terry Brown told the SouthLondonPress.

"Dave knows a bit about them and it's nice to be able to help him out."

Waltham Forest chairman Azumah Cofie believes that manager Tony Ievoli can lead the club to promotion next season after watching the team take apart Witham. 

Ievoli took over the reigns last month and, although results in general haven't quite gone their way, his young, new-look squad have put in some excellent performances and look to be coming to terms with the division.

That was much the case on Saturday as the team crashed to a 1-0 defeat at play-off chasing Cheshunt.  They played some attractive football and carved out some decent openings but went down to a solitary Clark Akers goal after nine minutes.

Although the result left the club still hovering just above the drop zone in Ryman One North, Cofie has been impressed by Ievoli's approach to the job.  And, after seeing the team put in a five-star showing against Witham in the League Cup on Tuesday night, he reckons it is only a matter of time before the team pull themselves to safety.

"Obviously the short term goal is to stay in the division, and I'm confident that will happen. Its beginning to turn around for us," he said.  Personally, if Tony can keep the squad together and get our off-the-fields problems resolved, then I feel they will be capable of mounting a title challenge next season. 

The players are really starting to get to grips at this level, as the win against Witham showed. It

If you have a have a news story from one of the Ryman Division One clubs please send it in to nonleaguefootballlive@live.co.uk

Millers manager Rod Stringer, who saw his team beat local rivals East Thurrock United to go top of the Ryman Division One North at the weekend, has been rewarded for the second month in succession by the Ryman League.

Millers, who made it five wins out of five for November, have seen their manager pick up the Manager of the Month award.

Club secretary Craig Johnson said: "I am sure Rod would be the first to admit that it has been a first class effort from everyone at Aveley FC that has enabled him to pick up this award.

"Being top of the table and winning awards at this stage of the season is great, but these lads have a bigger target, and we will keep our feet firmly on the ground. The club is really buzzing at the moment and let's hope we can keep it going."

Millers are in action tonight (Monday) when they entertain Maidstone in the Ryman League Cup.

Witham Town manager Tony Last has given himself four more games to turn the club's fortunes around.

And Last declared yesterday (Wednesday): "I'm confident I can do it.

"You have to set yourself a target and that's what I have done and I know I'm quite capable of doing it.

"We need one of two new players who will fit in with the team and are not trouble makers and I know the players I want.

"The team spirit is good and we just want to get a win under our belts to give everyone a bit of confidence."

Town, currently bottom of the Ryman League Division One North having suffered four successive defeats and conceded 11 goals in their last two games were rocked again at the weekend by the sudden departure of club captain and defender Nathan Fletcher.

"He's left the club by mutual consent and that's all I am prepared to say," said Last. "Had he not left I think six or seven other players would also have departed."

Town, who were due last night to meet Ilford in a battle of the basement clubs in a game Last admitted was imperative to pick up all three points, will also be missing Ricky Leftly with a knee injury.

"We know we want points and that's our priority," said Last. "We have four seven days' notice of approach in for players and I'm hoping to have at least one in for this Saturday.

"A central defender and midfielder are the main aims but we should also have a new 24-year-old striker, who was at Colchester United but has been out of the country for a while, on board by next week," he explained.

"Everyone knows that Witham Town does not have the kind of money other clubs have and we will continue to work within our budget and get in the players that also want to play for the club."

On the 6-1 home league defeat by Chatham Town on Saturday he said: "They have installed the former successful Lewes manager who clearly has money to spend on bringing in many new players and it showed.

"But I always say that clubs who go down that route always come to regret it in due course and we see it all the time when the money runs out," he added. "We will continue to work within our means and I'm confident we can stay in this league."

On Saturday, Town go to Soham Town Rangers in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.

Aveley Football Club enjoyed success both on the pitch and off it, in their promotion of Breast Cancer Awareness on Saturday. 

The well publicised Ryman League Division One North game v Ilford Football Club at Mill Field, where Aveley opened their doors with Free Admission to the general public, has so far raised over £4000, with money still coming in from the home players who individually joined the occasion and obtained personal sponsorship. 

All monies raised are going to support the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Aveley won the match with a second half brace from Wayne Vaughan in a game that saw a 15 year high league attendance at Mill Field of 534.

Club Secretary Craig Johnson said “The response from the Aveley community was fantastic.  People have turned out in their droves, and their generosity towards the Charity was second to none, the atmosphere they created was superb, and to cap it all they witnessed an entertaining match, played in the right spirit in which Ilford Football Club played their part in. 

We would particularly like to thank all those that contributed on the day to make it a memorable occasion for all those in attendance.

East Thurrock United manager John Coventry declared himself proud of his team's response after conceding two early goals in their 3-1 FA Cup Third Qualifying Round defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

"We played against a side two divisions above us," said Coventry. "We allowed them a bit too much room and had a dodgy couple of minutes which they took advantage of. But you have to be realistic. We've come here today and given them a game and they'd be the first to admit that."

Tom Shaw's neat finish on his debut after 17 minutes and Bradley Pritchard's strike two minutes later allowed the Blue Square North side to control the game against opposition two divisions below them.

Alex Rodman missed chances to make the game safe soon after the break but the impressive Gary Sheldon added a third with an unstoppable 25-yard free-kick.

Martin Llewellyn, a 16-year-old substitute, scored a late consolation for East Thurrock when he smashed home Kris Newby's centre.

Coventry was pleased for the youngster and hopes he and others will learn from their FA Cup experience.

"I've sent on two 16-year-olds and one's scored, which is great for him," said Coventry.

"I've not just come here for a nice day out so I am disappointed, especially as we conceded through some bad play.

"But there's a bigger picture here. It's a learning curve and everyone will hopefully go away with something different.

"The first thing I said to them is that the Cup run is great but we're here to win the league and I'm looking for a good response now."

That response starts on Tuesday when Rocks travel to Great Wakering Rovers.

Aveley will be in the pink for their Ryman One North clash with Ilford on Saturday.

The Millers have decided to make the match their annual free admission game and in addition will be supporting breast cancer charities by playing in a new pink strip, provided by Red Oak Roller Productions Ltd.

The club has produced a special programme which will be on sale for £2, with all proceeds going to the charities.

Pre match and half time entertainment will be provided by “Dusty Miller” and the Carlton School of Dancing.

Club secretary Craig Johnson said: “Our thanks go to all the many generous local businesses that have already donated to this worthy charity, and are acknowledged in the ‘one-off’ Pink Matchday programme.

Maldon Town have sacked manager Russell Tanner via a 5,160-mile telephone call on the first day he started a long booked family holiday in Florida.

The shock move by the club came only hours after last week's humiliating 8-2 Ryman League Division One North defeat at Brentwood Town.

Speaking from his holiday resort yesterday (Wednesday) Tanner said: "I received a text message from the chairman (Mike Kirkham) on the first day of my holiday and he informed me he was relieving me of my duties with immediate effect and that was it.

"I've had a number of players ringing and texting me regarding what is going on but I honestly don't know. All I know is that I have been sacked and I'm obviously disappointed that this has happened whilst I am away."

His assistant, Stuart Nethercott, confirmed yesterday that he had been asked by the club to step in as caretaker manager "to run things" over the next few weeks.

"All I know is that the club have official told me to take up the managerial reins on a week by week basis and we'll take it from there," said the former Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall defender. "I would like the job permanently as everyone knows I am keen to move into club management at some stage but we'll see how it goes."

Nethercott joined Tanner as the club's assistant manager at the start of this season while continuing to play and he will continue to do so until his position becomes clearer.

"Obviously if a new manager does come in then as a player that would then put me in a difficult position," explained the 35-year-old Nethercott.

"If I do get the job permanently then I would stop playing because I don't think you can do both longer term.

"If I am made permanent manager I would look to bring in an experienced player to replace me," he added. "At the moment I'm trying to bring in some new players because clearly after the Brentwood result and losing in the FA Cup replay to Witham Town the current squad is not good enough at this level.

"I have made formal approaches to one or two players and we may have someone in before Saturday's home league game against Redbridge," Nethercott continued. "I have signed goalkeeper Dave McCartney, 24, from Burnham Ramblers and he will go straight into the side."

Despite the managerial upheaval the club Nethercott remains upbeat and is confident his players will respond to the past two bad results when they run out on Saturday and again at Potters Bar on Tuesday for another league game.

"I took my first training session last Thursday and because we had no game on Saturday we had everyone in for training and the players' response was great," said Nethercott. "The only player to leave is midfielder Matt Cutchley.

"He says he wants to take a break from the game but he knows he's welcomed back at any time," continued Nethercott. "He travels from Bishop's Stortford every time so it's a bit of a haul and I quite understand his decision."

He added: "We hope the experienced defender Aidan Collins will be back from injury in two weeks' time and at the end of the month, striker James Robinson returns from Australia so we have a great deal to look forward to.

"I'm really looking forward to my first game in charge as a manager," Nethercott said, "This is a good, well run club and everyone works for one another and we need now just to strengthen the first team and start putting some results together."
Neither club chairman, MIke Kirkham or the club's director of football, Brian Honeywood, were available for comment at the time of the Essex Chronicle going to press.