DAVE Herbert has been knocked sideways by a couple of major body blows ahead of the new Sydenhams Division One season.

Despite relegation from the Wessex top flight, the Folland Sports manager had been optimistic for 2016/17 following the arrival of former Liss Athletic boss Rich Bessey as joint first-team manager and Bjay Green as boss of the Planemakers’ reserves.

But all that crumbled to dust yesterday when Bessey pulled out less than two weeks before the start of pre-season and Green, who ran Gosport Borough’s under-18s last term, decided to take his fledgling reserve squad to Baffins Milton Rovers instead.

Struggling to hide his disappointment, Herbert said: “Rich (Bessey) said he wanted to spend more time with his family, but I think it was more that the sponsors he was bringing in had let him down and he was feeling disheartened.

“He promised the world and was going to bring in sponsorship for kits, tracksuits etc, but he lost face when that fell through and now I don’t have a co-manager.

“I’m on the waiting list for a hip operation which should be in the next couple of months and I need to halve the managerial side. I feel aggrieved that Rich has gone only a week or so before pre-season.

“To top it off, Bjay Green’s gone to Baffins. He would have brought some reserve players with him and now we’ve got to find a new group.

"It bugs me when people think it's okay just to up and leave."

Follands at least have some bright news with Cort Swan and ex-player Richard Butt climbing aboard as coaches and former Sholing and AFC Stoneham man Roy Kingdon appointed commercial manager.

But although Herbert has successfully re-signed players Luke Musselwhite, Matt Watts and Javi Santafe Vivo, he is unsure if the three new arrivals signed by Bessey – Ash Howes, Tom Woodward and Alex Miroy – will stay now he has gone.

“If they stay, we’ll be up near the top competing. If not, we’ll be rebuilding again,” said Herbert.

Behind the scenes, Follands are in dire need of new faces – most urgently a secretary to replace the out-going Adrian Harris.

Anyone interested in filling a Follands vacancy – particularly co-manager, reserve manager or club secretary - should contact Herbert ASAP on 07775 845312 or Harris on 07774 962813 or at follandsportsfc@hotmail.co.uk

Potential new players are welcome to pre-season training beginning on Thursday, June 30, at Follands Park, 7.15pm.