NEW boss Louis Langdown says facilities were key to attracting him to the AFC Totton job.

For the last 17 years or more, fitness, strength and conditioning have been central to the career of the 37-year-old, who has not looked back since landing a job with Prozone after finishing a sports science degree at Southampton Solent University.

Langdown’s travels have taken him to Crystal Palace, Saints, Portsmouth and AFC Bournemouth and he has worked for the English Institute of Sport, doing conditioning work with elite divers and boxers.

He did a masters degree in biomechanics at Chichester Uni and now lectures back at Solent, specialising in “biomechanics, conditioning and anything to do with performance in sport.”

Given his background, it is no surprise that Totton’s excellent Testwood Stadium facilities – opened as recently as 2011 – were a major attraction.

“For me, the facilities were key,” he said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere where I couldn’t train.

“There are lots of clubs locally where the pitch is ok, but you can’t train there.”

Totton’s Southern League status – albeit that they have work to do to retain it – was also a draw for Langdown, who played for Aerostructures (now Folland Sports) as a youngster and had a spell managing Team Solent.

“There’s a chance players will be attracted to this level of football. It’s hard to do anything lower down in terms of trying to progress,” he said. “People like Lee Bradbury at Havant & Waterlooville and Gary Waddock at Aldershot are not going to send players our way if we’re any lower.”

The feel of a club is another important factor for Langdown and Totton, still a members’ club, scores highly on that count too.

“Volunteers in football are unbelievable and the more I listen and talk to people at Totton, the more it comes across that they’re the heartbeat of the club,” he said.

“Other clubs throw promises at you, but I’ve never felt the right vibe. I know some of the Totton players and what they’re about and I feel I can make a difference.”

One difficult task for Langdown was parting company with Andy Darnton, the Stags’ former assistant boss who stepped in as caretaker when Steve Hollick left in late September.

The new manager is expected to name a No2 before his first game in charge at home to North Leigh on Saturday.