Former Gillingham boss Steve Lovell is back in football as the new manager of Herne Bay.

Lovell has signed a two-year deal and will be assisted by son Mark, a former Bay player.

The pair previously worked together at Ramsgate, where they were challenging for promotion in Isthmian South East before Lovell’s shock sacking at the end of January.

The dismissal came out of the blue for the Welshman, who had won successive manager-of-the-month awards before being axed in a phone call.

Bay are rebuilding following relegation to Isthmian South East after only one year in the Premier Division.

New chairman Sam Callander, who’s currently recovering from injuries sustained after he was hit by a van on a Whitstable industrial estate, had been hoping to name Kevin Watson’s successor last week.

There was a slight delay but Bay have their man as they set about attempting to win promotion in the next couple of years.