Danny Bloor back in Sussex football management as he take over at Hastings United

The man who was a popular and successful manager of Eastbourne Borough until he was replaced by new owner Simon Leslie a year ago has been appointed to take over from Chris Agutter at the Pilot Field.

It follows several months at Welling United for a manager well-known across Sussex, who took Eastbourne to the National South play-offs in 2022 and nearly repeated the trick last year.

Hastings United have been looking for their fourth manager in just over a year following Agutter’s switch to Worthing a fortnight ago. Agutter had been in his second spell at the Pilot Field since returning last October to take over from sacked Paul Barnes.

Barnes had taken over last summer following the resignation of Gary Elphick, who had been Hastings’ boss since November 2021 when Agutter’s first Us spell ended.

Hastings United said on Monday: “After an extensive search and thorough process the club are really pleased to confirm that Danny Bloor has been appointed as men’s first team manager on a two-year contract.”

Bloor said: “I am delighted to accept the position of First Team Manager of Hastings Utd. For me the fans are the most important people at a football club and Hastings without a shadow of a doubt has the best and I am so looking forward to meeting them.

"This is a proper football club with proper football people involved and I can’t wait to follow on the great work Chris has started. There will be no wholesale changes, we have a fantastic squad in place.”

United said further announcements on the rest of the management and back room staff will be made in the coming weeks.

Hastings are the third of Sussex’s Isthmian premier teams to announce a new boss – Lewes have appointed Craig Nelson to take over from Tony Russell, while Whitehawk have replaced the departing Shaun Saunders with Ross McNeilly, with Lancing’s Dave Altendorff going into the Enclosed Ground as No2.