IAN Brown is relishing his new role as first-team coach at AFC Sudbury.

Brown, who quit as manager of Whitton United just two weeks after retaining the Suffolk Senior Cup in May, joined Hadleigh United as coach in the summer.

But after leaving the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Brown has linked up with his former team-mate Chris Tracey at AFC Sudbury.

Brown said: “It was only ever going to be a short-term arrangement at Hadleigh, helping the club out over the summer, which suited both parties.

“It is difficult when you have been used to being a manager and then you become a coach, but joining Sudbury is a new challenge for me.”

The 47-year-old, who played professionally for Bristol City, Colchester United and Northampton Town, joined AFC Sudbury a fortnight ago.

Brown, who had been in charge at Whitton United for three years, can count Sudbury Town among his former non-league clubs.

He said: “Chris and I played together at Harwich & Parkeston and Sudbury Town, so I have known him for a long time.

“Sudbury was a very good club when I played there and still is a good club, and hopefully I can help move the club forward while I am there.

“There are some very technically gifted players at the club, but it is all about confidence.

“Confidence can be so brittle in football and there is no magic wand, but hopefully things will change.

“Sudbury have had some bad breaks with injuries this season and not been able to put out their best side, and when you do that you then create competition for places.”

The Ryman League Division One North club ended a run of 14 matches without a win in all competitions with a 6-1 thrashing of Redbridge on Saturday.

He said: “It was a very open game, but we did play well. The players just need to believe in themselves more.”