6:00am Thursday 12th June 2008
By Wendy Gee
AMBITIOUS Wessex champions AFC Totton have appointed a director of football as they prepare for their debut Southern League season.
After scouring the area for a suitable non-League club to join, Titchfield-based businessman Mick Budny has pitched up at Testwood Park where he will oversee all footballing matters, allowing manager Stuart Ritchie to devote more time to the team.
Having previously lived in the Thames Valley area, dad of three Budny moved south four years ago and has kept an interested eye on the local football scene ever since.
In his playing days he was involved with Maidenhead, Hungerford and Amersham Town and was offered a contract to play semi-pro football in Finland but had to pull out because of a shoulder injury.
A follower of Hampshire Cricket and a season-ticket holder at St Mary's, he sponsors youth outfit Crofton Saints Lions in the Mid Solent League and provides training facilities for their under-10s on land near Titchfield Abbey.
"I am very excited to be joining AFC Totton in the role of director of football," said Budny, whose appointment was confirmed following talks with Ritchie and Totton chairman Ian Shields.
"The fact that the chairman and first team manager want a DOF to oversee all footballing matters domonstrates how forward-thinking they are."
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