NEW Portland United boss Brendon King feels the Blues’ managerial hot-seat was “too good an opportunity” to miss.

King, a former Weymouth, Hamworthy United and Portland United manager, is appointed as the permanent successor to long-time friend Simon Browne, who was replaced on an interim basis by Gary Bailey in late January. 

With Bailey stepping out of the running for the job due to work commitments, King emerged as the club’s first choice after leaving Hamworthy United and told Echosport he cannot wait to get “stuck into it”.

He said: “It’s a great club up there, with good people and they’ve got some good players, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it.

“Hamworthy wanted to go in a little bit of a different direction, so we decided to shake hands and move on. 

“It came around pretty quick – I go on holiday for a fortnight today – but it was too good an opportunity, so we had a chat and we didn’t chat for very long. 

“They all know me and we know what the situation is – we’ve got to get on and get stuck in.”

King, who is joined by Mark Carter as assistant-manager, revealed that the Blues’ brief is to finish in the top 10 of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division next season.

“We’re there to try and play some attractive football when we can. We know what you get when you go up to Portland – it’s a very decent surface and the players I’ll get in will want to play football.

“We’ve got some good experience within the nucleus of the side. We’ll be looking to push on and finish as high as we can. 

“The club want to finish in the top 10, and we’ve got more than enough to do that.”

Despite King’s holiday, the Blues’ boss conceded he will be in touch with Carter throughout his vacation during “one of the busiest times of the season”.

He said: “The hard work starts now, albeit I’m going away for two weeks. Reggie (Carter) will be on the phone and speaking to players while I’m sat by the pool!

“For management it’s probably one of the busiest times of the season, we want to get things done as soon as we can.”

On Carter, who was assistant to Gary Bailey in Portland’s 2016-17 Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division title-winning campaign, King added: “We work well together, also he’s been up there with Gary and he’s worked with me at two or three clubs as well.

“He’s great to have around, knows his stuff, and he’s a good lad.” 
In a statement, the club said the Blues’ fresh appointments were a “safe pair of hands”.

It read: “Portland United Football Club have appointed Brendon King as manager to replace interim manager Gary Bailey, who stepped down two weeks ago due to work commitments. 

“Mark Carter has been appointed as assistant-manager, the duo having taken Hamworthy United to fifth place in the Wessex Premier League last season. 

“It was agreed by the PUFC management committee that the club needed to get back on track ASAP following the well-documented trials and tribulations of last season which saw the club finish in 15th place. 

“In this respect, we have gone for a safe pair of hands with a management duo familiar with a very competitive Wessex Premier League.

“After strengthening the playing squad, whilst at the same time working within the financial resources of the football club, I’m confident that our loyal supporters will be pleased with our new management team as we seek to make the club a dominant force in the Wessex Premier League.”