COWES Sports have appointed a former England winger as their new manager.

Taking charge of the Isle of Wight outfit is ex-Coventry City, West Brom and Aston Villa man Steve Hunt.

The 60-year-old, who also played alongside Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer for New York Cosmos, has had previous non-League managerial experience with Willenhall Town in the late 1980s.

Hunt, awarded two England caps, has also worked as youth team coach at Port Vale and Leicester City.

His appointment topped a satisfying weekend for the Yachtsman who assured themselves of Sydenhams Premier survival with a 1-0 win over Amesbury Town.

Jordan Browne’s late header from Fin Phillips’ free-kick ensured they stayed up in 18th place.

*JOE Noakes marked his return from injury by scoring the opening goal in AFC Portchester’s 4-1 Sydenhams Premier win at relegated Verwood Town.

Noakes, who had been out of action with knee trouble since December, took just 90 seconds to open the Royals’ account with a header from a corner.

Miles Everett and two-goal Alex Baldacchino completed the scoring to make it a satisfying end to the season for Portchester’s stand-in manager Ian Saunders.

Portchester wind up the season in eighth, four points clear of ninth-placed Lymington Town who bowed out with 4-0 home win over Bournemouth Poppies.

Sam House, Nick Magee, Tim Stephenson and Charlie Willett scored for Lymo.

*BLACKFIELD & Langley must content themselves with a fourth-placed finish in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

The wobbling Watersiders failed to win any of their last six league games - a late-season collapse which allowed Sholing to leapfrog them into third spot.

Having taken a third-minute lead through Kane Daysh on Saturday, disaster quickly followed for Blackfield.

They had defender Sam Poole shown a straight red shortly before the half-hour mark at the expense of a penalty.

And although Brad Snelling saved Curt Robbins’ spot kick, visitors Fareham Town went on to punish the ten men 3-1 thanks to hat-trick hero Ash Tattersall.

The result left Fareham in 12th spot – a huge achievement for a side who were bottom at the turn of the year when new manager Pete Stiles stepped in.

Blackfield have announced that club stalwart Owen Lightfoot is stepping down as chairman.

*ANDOVER Town polished off the Sydenhams Premier Division season by completing a season’s double over fifth-placed Alresford.

Glenn Burnett’s visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Reece Rusher’s cross was headed into his own net by Magpies’ Aaron Blaxall.

Alresford spurned several chances to equalise, hitting the post on two occasions.

But on 85 minutes they were caught again when Rusher raced through and took the ball wide of keeper Dan Kempson before slotting home.

Deep into injury time, Andover No1 Lloyd Thomas tipped a shot onto the crossbar to ensure the club’s first clean sheet in 17 games.

Alresford boss Richard Luffman tweeted: “Not at our best but after a long season and hitting our top 6 objective I can't complain too much. Now we push on to 2017/18 #mags”