TOTTON & Eling will be leaning heavily towards youth next season – including in the dugout.

Having parted company with Lee Thorne, the Millers have appointed 24-year-old ex-Romsey Town boss James Phillips as their new manager.

Two summers ago Phillips made history when, at the tender age of 22, he became the youngest boss in FA Cup history for Romsey’s extra preliminary round tie against Fareham Town.

Since leaving the Bypass Ground, he has enhanced his coaching education working alongside James Taylor, Kevin Braybrook, Mick Marsh and Dave Fear at Team Solent.

T&E finished a disappointing 15th in Sydenhams One last season following relegation the previous year and, as secretary Rob Lomax explained, they have decided to move in a different direction.

The club are still in talks with Totton & Eling Town Council over a 25-year lease for their Miller Park ground and Lomax said: “We’ve not got the facilities or budget to pay players, so we need to change our philosophy and build with youngsters long-term rather than going for a short-term fix.

“We had two good under-18 teams – mine and Shawn Kitcher’s – last season and quite a few of them played for the first team and reserves.

“We know it’s going to be a learning curve for them, but we want to nurture them along with a few senior players.

“Lee Thorne’s a great lad, but we felt we needed someone fresh to manage the first team, someone adaptable to that role.

“James had the same sort of remit to work with youth at Romsey, but that changed after a few months.

“He became a coach at Team Solent and is highly thought of by Kev Braybrook - and you can’t get a much better recommendation than that.

“James has got his UEFA B coaching badge and he’s working towards UEFA A.

“He’s quite raw and needs experience, but how does he get it if you don’t give him a chance?

“We feel we’ll be good for him and he’s a good fit for us.”

Kitcher, meanwhile, has taken over as reserve team manager following Matt Froukhians’ departure to Hythe & Dibden.

T&E will start pre-season training on Tuesday, June 14 and Thursday, June 16 (7pm start both days) at Testwood School. Any keen players are welcome to attend.