ANDY FORD has signed a contract to become the first full-time manager of Gravesend & Northfleet.

The former-Gillingham, Swindon and Southend player has managed the Conference club since its Ryman League days.

Glenn Aitken, Fleet chief executive, said: “Andy already spends hours over and beyond normal part-time expectations. This is the next stage for him and the club.”

At the club’s awards night on Friday, Ford announced: “I have the nucleus of next year’s squad already signed up. I hope to make further key signings during the summer and I’ll take a look at one or two players in July and August.”

Former Fleet favourite Jimmy Jackson has returned to the club following an uneventful year at neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge.

Centre-back Chris Moore made it a clean sweep of awards as he added player-of-the-year and players’ player-of-the-year trophies to the supporters’ player-of-the-year award he received three weeks ago.

Young player-of-the-year went to Andy Drury and golden boot to Roy Essandoh at Fleet’s awards dinner.