Former Gillingham coach Darren Hare has taken over as manager of Hastings United.

Hare recently left the Gills, where he has been the club’s youth manager, to set up a new coaching academy with Andy Hessenthaler.

The new academy, which aims to produce coaches and players, is part of the new K Sports umbrella which will be run from the Cobdown Sports & Social Club.

As part of the new venture, Hare and Hessenthaler are also running an elite player development academy, in conjunction with Folkestone Invicta.

Along with K Sports, Hare had also been keen to get back into football management and now has an opportunity with the Ryman League, Division 1 South side.

Hare was part of the caretaker management team left in charge of the Gills in the wake of Peter Taylor’s sacking, helping to bring some stability to the playing side before the arrival of Justin Edinburgh.

The 49-year-old is a former Hastings Town player and previous management spells came at Canterbury City and Folkestone Invicta.