AFC TOTTON have welcomed popular goalkeeping coach Jamie Cotton back to the Testwood Stadium fold.

Cotton initially joined the Stags in the summer of 2015 as part of a new backroom team recruited by then manager Steve Hollick.

From Totton, the former Lymington Town and Hythe & Dibden man moved on to Petersfield Town where he worked in tandem with Ian Saunders, who then took him to Winchester City.

Out of loyalty to Saunders, who was sacked last week, Cotton has parted company with the Citizens and been welcomed back at Southern One South & West rivals Totton with open arms.

Cotton and Totton boss Louis Langdown go back years, having played youth football together for Winsor and been part of the same Eastleigh rep side.

Langdown said: “Adam (Wilde, assistant) has known Jamie for years too.

“We’ve always wanted to get a goalkeeping coach in and when Jamie became available it was a no-brainer to call him.

“Winchester were keen to keep him but, because of his loyalty to Sus (Saunders), Jamie saw it as time to get out.

“He’s champing at the bit to be back with Totton. He’s happy to come home!”

Cotton will join up with the 19th-placed Stags for tomorrow's (Wednesday, 7.45) trip to Slimbridge, where one point will make 100 per cent sure of Southern League survival.

Striker Mark Gamble is ruled out with a swollen ankle, while on-loan AFC Bournemouth right-back Connor York is unavailable. He is due to play today for Cherries’ under-21s.