Barham takes charge after Sidley job swap

The former Eastbourne Borough and Hastings Town (now United) player, who re-joined the Gullivers club as assistant manager during March, will swap roles with previous boss Andy Laskey.

"After great deliberation," said chairman Dickie Day, "the committee felt that, even though Andy's commitment has been spot on, it would benefit the club for Liam to be the manager. At one stage they were talking about being joint managers, but you've always got to have a number one (although Sidley have utilised a policy of joint managers for much of the last few seasons)."

The job swap was decided upon during a committee meeting on Tuesday, last week and a subsequent meeting involving the committee, Barham and Laskey took place two days later.

"It's just a slight change really," Day continued, "but I would like to think that some things will improve. We feel that Liam did make a difference when he came in and, because he's been around and mixed with players at a higher level, hopefully he will attract players. He's laid down some of his ideas and plans and hopefully, if they come off, we should have a decent side."

Tim Bolton and Mark Lynch will stay on as joint managers of the second team in the Reserve Section Premier.