IAN'S IMPACT IS INSTANT

The signs were good last summer when, in a county short of managers at this level able genuinely to coach, Browne, a 32-year-old secondary school science teacher, had authentic credentials and learned his trade in Liverpool with the city FA's national championship-winning Under-15 schools representative side.

As a player he jokes that he had 'played rubbish' in every position except in goal.

In Sussex he worked for the County FA, coached Sussex Women and the girls at Brighton & Hove Albion, and the men at Brighton University who reached their national semi-finals.

Quality will out, and now the speculation will inevitably be whether Browne will be lured away to where the money is, and away from a small club suddenly needing to find the cash from somewhere to survive in Division 1.

He said: "I am ambitious. I'm competitive and that's how I want my football team to be. Who knows what's going to happen?

"But I've got a lot of friends at United. I realise that next season success will be different and more difficult. I'm ambitious for the club. We've realised some of the potential and there's still a lot to be achieved. It's whether we can facilitate that."

The first thing he has ruled out is any link-up with Worthing Football Club as a nursery or feeder club. Withdean had something of that role and had a miserable Combined Counties League season.

Brown: "I'd be effectively a reserves team manager. I'd have no consistency, continuity or stability in the team. It would be very difficult."

United disbanded their uncompetitive Under-18 team this season and need their reinstated Under-17s to provide a source of talent next term. United need to compete with the best County League youth sides in the area, such as East Preston, Littlehampton and Arundel.

Brown outlined his first-team task: "Everyone at United knew the club had under-achieved.

"The team lacked structure and I gave them a pattern to play. I brought a higher level of preparation for matches and gave players a pride in performance. I set standards and raised the bar higher for the team. We had a good pre-season and that was the injection we needed.

"My relationship with the players has helped me bring the best out of them. Every one knows what I expect of him, with or without the ball. The character of the team has strengthened a hundredfold and even during bad performances not once did we give up the ghost."

What technical work did he do with the players that was different to their previous experience?

"In pre-season we did a lot of ball work. Our training was not like being in the Army. All the fitness work was done with the ball. It's all about what players do when they're fatigued. You have to be mentally as well as physically fit to play football because football's a tiring game.

"At times that has showed in games. In the latter stages we now create more chances and cope with the physical side. When you're tired you've still got to be able to play. Now next season we'll have more midweek games and we'll train on Thursdays.

"When I came here I put a plan to the club. To improve the image and status of United. A club in a town this size should be in Division 1 and competing in Division 1. The club was perceived as being Ragass Rovers run by Silly and Billy. But it's not about egos, it's about the bigger picture.

"Most of the plan I said I'd do, I've done '” get promoted and have some cup success (second place and division cup runners-up]."

The acid test at a moneyless club like United is the quality of players the boss pulls in with a limited carrot. Browne added Stuart Sell, Steve Pickles, Tom Gomez, Adam Westwood, Michael Sims, Jason Hughes, Geoff Ward, Peter Brackley, Lee Weston, Rob Weston, Jon Rees, Steve Webb, Steve Blake and brought back Gavin Jones.

He singles out as the most important his midfield-playing captain, Pickles, who came out of retirement for Browne at 36.

"I can't overstate the impact Steve has had on the playing side. He missed only one league game. He's been a talisman at times. If you want a player for all the others to look up to, Steve's that player.

"That impact comes from his persona and the way he plays '” tough tackling, never moans, produces good performances, scores goals, and he has played through pain. He is certainly my best signing this season."