FORMER Yeading, Hampton and Aylesbury manager Steve Cordery has been appointed boss at Staines Town as replacement for caretaker Mark Butler.

Staines chairman Alan Boon says: "We picked Steve from 40 applicants. He was successful at Hampton and last season took Aylesbury to the FA Trophy semi-finals as well as steering them clear of relegation.

"Steve lives locally at Wraysbury and is very much into developing local youngsters. He will work closely with Martyn Spong, who recently brought the Kingstonian youth academy to Staines.

"It will be up to Steve to decide about the futures of Mark Butler and Joe O'Shea, who have been in temporary charge of the team since we parted company with Ken Ballard. He will then concentrate on bringing in new players to help us finish in the top seven and so gain promotion into a revised Ryman Premier League."

Cordery, 45, comments: "I have not made any decisions yet and plan to give the current players every chance." But he is expected to bring Craig Maskell with him as player-assistant manager.

May 30, 2003 11:30