NEW Deal Town FC manager Derek Hares has appointed Andy Bigginton as his assistant.

Bigginton, who has made 175 senior appearances for Deal, was in the reserve team squad for most of this season but played a handful of matches in the first team’s back four towards the end of the campaign.

With Dave Dadd deciding to follow Simon Bryant to Herne Bay as his number two, Hares needed to find a replacement and felt that Bigginton was the obvious choice for assistant manager.

“Andy can still play at Kent League level and he did a good job when he came into the first team this season,” said Hares. “He’s very experienced and knows the Kent League inside out.”

The most pressing concern for Hares at the moment is to establish how many of Deal’s players want to stay at the Charles Ground next season.

He already knows that Steve Jones, Mark Pollard, Mike Heather and Ian Hayes are going to Herne Bay and that Jason Hughes and Ben Laslett are likely to join them.

Hares has spoken to the remaining first and reserve team players and told them that he needs to know soon what their plans are.