GOSPORT Borough have announced Craig McAllister as their new first-team manager – with Matt Tubbs as player-coach.

It wasn’t long ago that Borough appointed Ryan Northmore as boss, but he was forced to quit the Southern League South club for personal reasons.

Chairman Iain McInnes has now turned to strike duo McAllister and Tubbs, hoping they will pair up as successfully off the field as they have on it for the likes of Crawley Town and Eastleigh.

“I’m really excited and grateful to be given this opportunity to manage the football club,” said McAllister.

”My role at this moment in time is player-manager.

"I’ll be slowly coming away from the playing side as we progress together. That said, I’m really looking forward to playing alongside Matt again.

"Matt comes in as player-coach and to help assist me. He's a top professional and top man.

"His career speaks for itself and he will bring lots to this football club on and off the pitch."

"I’ll be realistic about the season's targets, but one thing for sure is to keep improving on previous seasons.

"If I didn’t say my aim was to make the play-offs I’d be kidding myself.

"My standards have always been high at the start of seasons, so I won’t change that.

"Regarding preparation for pre-season, I’m taking over quite late so things have been put in place, but that’s not to say a few things won't change. 

"Matt and I want to create a good environment for players to come into.

"We have some very tasty pre-season games - they won’t be easy, but they're a great test for our players.

"First and foremost, it’s about these players getting fit and ready for the first game of the season." 

McAllister first linked up with Gosport as player-coach last January but, just a couple of months later, he left to join Blackfield & Langley's march to the Sydenhams Premier Division title.

He did, however, play a handful of games for relegation-battling Borough towards the end of the campaign as they successfully clung onto their place in the Southern League top flight.