Alan Devonshire has been appointed as the new manager of Hampton and Richmond Borough FC and will be joined at the club by Graham Wood - who will be installed as chairman from July 1st (writes DALE HARRY).

Devonshire joins the Beveree club after spending nine years in charge of Ryman Premier Division side Maidenhead United, steering them to victory in the Berkshire & Buckingshire Cup four seasons ago and winning them promotion from Division One, and finishing his final campaign for the club in tenth place.

The former West Ham and England midfielder inherits a club going through one of its gloomiest periods to date after relegation from the Premier Division, finishing bottom of the table, and winning only three league games all season.

Hampton have deliberated on the successor to caretaker manager Brian Cottington for three weeks.

Vice chairman Mike Holland said: "We are delighted to have secured Alan's services and believe his willingness to drop down a division shows faith in the club and its objectives. Nothing is guaranteed in football but we are confident that Alan's appointment will signal the reversal in fortunes after two difficult season at Beveree.

"We had to make sure we picked the right person for the role, even if it took longer than we would like."

Holland revealed the club had approached Devonshire two weeks ago, and have worked hard to construct a suitable package for him.

Devonshire, who has good ties with Hampton after managing the Ladies side for three seasons from 1995, while still in charge at Maidenhead, has been approached by a number of clubs since his resignation at the end of the season.

Holland added: "He has got the right connections at the level that we need, so we can bring in players, strengthen the team, and get back into the Premier.

"The five others we interviewed do not have the same track record and we were not convinced they would suit. All had good coaching experience but little success as managers.

"Coupled with being a successful manager, he's also had an illustrious playing career. He's a name, and it gives something to the club."

Hampton will become a limited company on June 1st with Graham Wood as chairman.

Wood was a member of the Hampton committee in the 1970s but his business interests took him away from the area until he contacted the club last season. He was once vice-chairman of Sunderland FC.

Caretaker-manager Brian Cottington, who was put in temporary charge after Chick Botley was sacked in March, was one of six candidates for the role.

"Alan and Brian will have to decide what they are going to do. I am sure Alan will bring in his own guys and we will have to see where that leaves existing people," said Holland.

"Brian was in very close contention for the job and we believe he has the qualities to succeed in such a role should the opportunity arise."

Former-chairman Merv Cox, who was forced to step down because of work and family commitments in April after eight months in the job, is set to return to the board for the start of the season.

"We have a three year plan," said Holland

"In this time we want to operate as a limited company. The next priority is to win promotion back to the Premier. We will then be in a position to consider the proposed new Conference leagues and how beneficial it would become to join."