Julian Miller takes over at Roffey and signs striker Damon Aston

Former Forest and Loxwood manager Miller takes over from Dan Redman, who will be his assistant and share the general management of the County League Division Three team.

The signing of goal-machine Aston will be seen as a major coup, after he was playing Division Two football last season at local rivals Broadbridge Heath.

Defender Ben Simester will also stay on as club captain after turning down interest from local clubs.

Redman steered the side to comfortable safety the season after the club were handed a reprieve having finished bottom of the County League. He said: “Julian came along for the last few games of last season and has now come on board as manager, so I’ll be his assistant.

“I’m happy to do that because we’ll effectively be running the side together and we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Aston has scored goals wherever he’s played, more recently at Loxwood and then Heath last season, and also previously playing for Roffey. Redman said: “It’s a very good signing for us, obviously he’s renowned for his goal-scoring and he’s played under Julian before. Hopefully it will mean we can sign a few more players like him as well.”

Former Hastings man Julian Kilner has also come on board as a coach, and the side’s Reserves are also expected to be playing in the Reserves County West League after winning Division Three of the Mid Sussex League last season.

“As a club we are trying to move forward,” Redman continued. “The goal is to get into County Two football and improve the facilities at the club, we’re hoping to put planning in for floodlights this year.

“After coming bottom the year before, last season was all about stability, and I think we achieved that. Now we’re looking for a top half finish, and if you get a good start you never know where that can take you.”