Hadleigh United have appointed Ian Brown as their new first-team manager.

Brown was announced as the Brettsiders’ boss late on Friday night following the resignation of former boss Stuart Crawford earlier this month.

Brown joined Hadleigh’s coaching team in the summer, but will now look to guide last season’s Thurlow Nunn Premier Division champions to a strong end to the campaign.

“I think the club is in a transitional period at the moment, and I hope I can help give the first-team the confidence they need,” declared Brown, whose first-game in charge of the Brettsiders will be against Whitton United on Saturday (January 24) a club where he spent several successful years as manager.

“Hopefully I can be clear about what I want from my players,” continued Brown, who will be assisted by Alan Dilloway.

“We’ll get them to work hard, and as long as the players are prepared to work hard – which I’m sure they are – then we’ll win more games than we lose.”

Hadleigh won the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties Leagues for the first time in their history last season, but currently sit in sixth-place after an indifferent campaign that saw title-winning boss Crawford quit, mainly due to a mass exodus of players in the summer.

Brown paid compliment to Crawford’s achievements at the club, and insists that he is still inheriting a very good squad.

“Looking at the bigger picture, Stuart did a fantastic job and I hope people appreciate what he achieved,” Brown continued.

“It’s been difficult (this season). The club lost a lot of players from the championship winning-team and football is a confidence game.

“There are some very good footballers here at Hadleigh and perhaps some of them need reminding how good they are.

“We’ll see how it goes. I haven’t thought about where we are going to finish or anything like that, I just want us to work hard, and play with confidence.”

Hadleigh did not have a game yesterday, but Brown will hope for three points against his former employees this coming Saturday.

Meanwhile, Brantham Athletic have announced the resignation of first-team boss Paul Abrahams. The Imps lost 2-1 at Ely City yesterday, and sit in 16th position in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

There will be more to follow on Abrahams’ Brantham exit in the East Anglian Daily Times later this week.