FORMER Long Melford manager Jason Maher has been appointed as assistant to new Diss Town manager Richard Daniels.

The Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side have moved quickly to replace Robert Taylor, who resigned at the weekend after his side’s 2-0 defeat at Woodbridge Town.

Daniels became joint manager with Stewart Larter at Gorleston in 2011, before standing down to become the club’s director of football as recently as the start of last month.

Maher, who took over at Stoneylands in December 2010, quit Long Melford at the end of June after “much heartache and soul searching” less than two months after leading the club to the Suffolk Senior Cup final.

He had guided Melford to a ninth-place finish in Division One of the Ridgeons League last season as well as the showpiece final at Portman Road, where a last-minute goal saw holders Whitton United win 2-1.

Maher said that the chance to link up with Daniels at a “massive” club was a great opportunity for him.

“I have known Richard for two or three years and we have always got on well. We both said if a job came up half-way between us we could work together. We have kept in contact and speak regularly. When this job came up I said ‘yes’ to it and things have moved pretty quickly.

“Diss is a massive club and it is a great opportunity for me. It is a proper football club, and although the club is in a relegation battle at the moment I am sure we will be able to turn it around.

“After leaving Melford people said to me to be patient and don’t take the first offer that comes along, and this is a chance to work with a manager who has won trophies and done well in the Premier Division as I am still learning as a manager.”

Daniels last season guided Gorleston to promotion from Division One of the Ridgeons League.