FORMER Folland Sports boss Dave Lewis is the new manager of Lymington Town.

John Pyatt is sticking with the club but, due to increased work commitments, he has put Lewis in charge of the day-to-day running of the team, assisted by another ex-Follands manager Dave Herbert.

Pyatt, a 50 per cent shareholder in Nationwide Concreting Ltd, explained: “Work's gone mad. It's been so intense since January that I can’t do the manager’s job justice and it’s not fair on the lads. We’ve got some good players here.

“The club’s going through a transitional period. The dressing rooms are being knocked down and we’ll have a new clubhouse by this time next year.

“It’s all starting to take shape and it’s important now that we keep the unity here and hold things together ready for next year. I'd been waiting for the right manager to come along.

“I’ve known Lewy (Dave Lewis) a long time, he’s a good footballing person with the right values. He understands that you only get out of football what you put in.

"I don't like the title 'director of football', but I'll be around to assist, along with Bob Sullivan and Stu Kenna."

Pyatt, meanwhile, has given a vote of thanks to young striker Jack Odam who has been invaluable in helping to run the side over the past two to three months.

The 21-year-old ex-AFC Totton and Bashley frontman underwent an operation in June for cruciate ligament damage and is now upping his training with the aim of playing again by Christmas.

“A big thanks to Jack for running the team for me. He’ll be scoring goals again in the New Year,” promised Pyatt.

In the absence of Stuart Williamson and Nic Jones, coach Kenna filled in as an emergency goalkeeper at Cowes Sports on Saturday.

Charlie Willett twice put Lymington in front, but the Yachtsmen hit back to claim the Sydenhams Premier points, 3-2, through Gareth Bricknell, Jordan Browne and Oliver McArthur.

Lymo’s cause wasn’t helped by having centre-half Tim Stephenson carried off midway through the first half with knee ligament damage.

“I’m getting an MRI scan sorted for him, but it looks like he’s going to be out for three or four months,” said Pyatt.