Maggs sacked as United boss

Terry White will step up from first team coach to take over the manager’s post, while assistant boss Cliff Cant has also left the Ryman Football League Division One South outfit.

A club statement read: “The club regrets to announce its decision to part company with first team manager John Maggs following yesterday afternoon’s disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Leatherhead. Cliff Cant has also been released from his role as assistant manager.

“Yesterday’s reverse was United’s third in five league games since Christmas and left them 11 points behind leaders Peacehaven & Telscombe, six adrift of Leatherhead, and in danger of slipping out of the play-off places, in a season when promotion was accepted to be the very minimum objective at the point when the former Crawley and Horsham boss was appointed.

“Terry White, who guided the U’s to a successful start to the campaign during a brief spell as caretaker manager alongside Mark Stapley, after Sean Ray’s resignation on the eve of the new season, has kindly agreed to step up from his coaching duties and to take on the manager’s job on a permanent basis with immediate effect.

“The club would like to thank John and Cliff for their efforts over the last five months and to wish both every success for the future, whilst also offering thanks and good wishes to Terry, as he begins the task of hopefully steering United’s promotion challenge back on course.”

United are fourth in the table with an average of just under two points per game. The U’s are six points behind second-placed Leatherhead with two games in hand, and 21 league fixtures remaining.

The vastly experienced Maggs - a regular spectator at the club’s under-21 matches - won 16, drew three and lost nine of his 28 games in The Pilot Field hot seat.