FA Vase heroes Sholing are promoting from within to replace Dave Diaper as manager.

Two long-serving clubmen, Dave Fear and Mick Marsh, will jointly run the team on their return to the Southern League next season.

Marsh, a former Portsmouth RN and Bishop’s Waltham man, has been part of the first team set up as head coach and made a pivotal contribution to this season’s FA Vase/Sydenhams Premier Division double.

Fear, a defender for Eastleigh and Gosport Borough in his playing days, has been manager of the Boatmen’s highly successful reserve side, who recently triumphed at St Mary’s in the Southampton Senior Cup and won the Wyvern Premier title.

Diaper, who is standing down as manager after 14 seasons but will remain as chairman/director of football, said: “If it’s not broke don’t mend it.

“The players know Mick and Dave and their style of play and they both have long term ties with the club.”

Diaper also revealed that he is looking to bring in extra coaching expertise and has approached former Saints academy coach Dave Puckett about joining the Boatmen.
 

Puckett spent last season coaching and occasionally playing – aged 53! - for Sholing’s Wessex Premier rivals Totton & Eling and Diaper is also talking to Millers’ co-boss Stuart Hussey – a former Boatmen’s player – about becoming strikers’ coach.