FOOTBALL: Clymping get Prior to replace Di Paola

Prior managed United's reserve team last year and coached the first team, and it is his first managerial role in the County League with a first team but he has coaching experience under his belt from time with both East Preston and Horsham YMCA.

The 29-year-old will be assisted in the role by Phil Churchill and they are looking forward to carrying on where Di Paola, who brought the side up through intermediate football from the West Sussex league, and won Division 3 of the County League at his first attempt, left off.

Prior was delighted at his appointment and said: "It is the perfect place for me to start really and I'm really happy. It's a big challenge but I really think it is something that we can do, obviously you can't expect miracles straight away, but I'm confident of a mid-table finish.

"I was coaching at EP with Chris White about three years ago, and then joined him at YM and was coaching there when they got promoted into the Ryman League.

"But I couldn't manage all the travelling, Jason (Rutherford) then asked me over to United, and that is where I have been."

Prior led the United reserve team to a second-place finish in Reserve Section West last season, just two points behind winners East Preston.

He has already set about trying to bring in players for next season, as the club is resigned to more than likely losing a lot of the squad to Di Paola's new club United.

He said: "Dom, I think, will take pretty much the whole of last season's squad with him, so we have already spoken to a lot of players. I'm looking to bring in a lot of people to help continue where Dom left off."

Di Paola and club chairman Frank Sumner have spoken on how the manager left the club on amicable terms, and 28-year-old Di Paola insists there will be no bad blood when the clubs meet next season.

He said: "I spoke to the whole committee before I left and they were great. You really couldn't ask for a nicer club and I hope they do well.

"I think, overall, the facilities were the influential factor to me of where I want to go with a club, if it hadn't been for that I probably wouldn't have left.

"I've made a lot of good friends there and I'm really looking forward to going back there, it won't be a grudge match for me at all."

Sumner added: "Dom came to me and asked about going to United, it was where he came from, and he said Jason had left and it would be a great opportunity for him. I had no objections and we are happy for him, it's a shame for us but we'll look forwards. Darren is very keen, we know what he wants and he knows what we want and our situation.

"We still need our G ground grade, which is something we'll be looking to get next year.

"Darren and Phil are both youngish lads in terms of County League Division 2 management, but they have been impressive in what they've done and will be looking to bring in a couple of new players here."

Clymping's pre-season training starts at 7pm on June 22 at the club's ground and all are welcome to attend.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]