TOTTON & Eling vice-chairman Andy Tipp says the club won’t be setting any unrealistic targets for incoming boss Wayne Mew.

With no prospect of climbing out of the Wessex ranks in the foreseeable future, the Millers would settle for being a well run, family club, competing steadily in the Sydenhams Premier Division and bringing young players through..

Having led his previous charges Romsey Town to an eighth-placed finish on a shoestring budget three seasons ago, Mew appears to be a perfect fit for the job.

Not only is he bringing himself to the Millers Park party, but he will be accompanied by his trusty sidekicks Dave Smith (assistant/coach) and Dave Penny (physio). His right-hand man Stuart Long will also be around, albeit that he is currently working in Norway and only comes home every other weekend.

“We had quite a few people apply for the job and it was a very difficult decision, but we felt Wayne was the ideal choice with the contacts he has. He knows the Wessex League inside out and did a brilliant job at Romsey, working with no budget and bringing in some very good players,” Tipp explained.

“We’ve had some ups and downs with Wayne over the years when we’ve taken a couple of players from him at Romsey, which he wasn’t too happy about, but that’s local football for you!” he laughed.

“You can be someone’s worst enemy one minute and their best friend the next.

“One of the key factors for us in appointing Wayne is that he brings with him some very experienced people,” Tipp added.

“With more help off the pitch and our youth section growing as well, it’s looking good for the future.

“We’re a family club and we need people who will muck in and help out. That’s what local football is all about.

“We’re not going to win the league, we just want to be a successful top-ten side.

“If we have a good cup run, we might be in a position to push on, who knows? But when people let their aspirations get too big, it can be dangerous. We’re just a local club looking to bring young players through.”

With Rob Lomax having crossed the fence from neighbours AFC Totton, the Millers have the perfect team in place to get a youth production line up and running.

He and Danny Ackland will take charge of one under-18 side in the Hampshire Youth League, while Kevin Leggett will run another in the Southampton League.

The club are also launching a new under- 16 side.

“Rob’s resigned from his executive role at AFC Totton because of a conflict of interests and he’s bringing some good youngsters in,” said Tipp.

“Rather than go with a reserve team, we’re going to have two under-18 sides and try and break them into the first team.”

Facility-wise, the Millers have had talks with the local council about installing a temporary clubhouse/bar at Millers Park.

Currently T&E use AFC Totton’s bar after games, but they feel the time has come to stand on their own two feet.

“We want to be self-sufficient,” said Tipp. “There are no hard feelings towards AFC Totton, but we need to try and progress ourselves. It’s very difficult to move forward without a bar and we’re looking at putting in a temporary building to start with that can house 40 or 50 people.

Even if it’s a temporary building like Poole Town’s, it’s done all right for them.

“We’ll get a newish one that looks smart.

We went to Eastleigh and saw the one they use for their executive club and thought it was amazing.”

l T&E are holding the last of their under-18 trials on Wednesday (July 2) at Testwood School, Totton, from 6-8pm.

Players interested in joining the under- 18 set-up can contact tottonandelingyouth@ gmail.com, ring Rob Lomax on 07876 776985 or turn up on the night.

Under-16 players can email the above address or ring Ian Clark on 07709 318550.