GRAYS Athletic has announced the appointment of new first team manager Darren Manning.

The Board of Directors said it felt it necessary to act quickly after parting company with Mark Stimson as manager on Monday and in a statement said they needed to appoint a manager 'capable of turning around the disappointing run of results and performances to push us up the league table.'

The statement continued: "Darren has showcased his managerial qualities most recently with Basildon United where they currently sit third in the Isthmian League North Division with an attacking brand of football played with flair and freedom.

"Darren will be present at our Essex Senior Cup game this evening away to Athletic Newham and will be bringing his own coaching team with him which consists of the following people:

Joe Gadsdon - Assistant Manager

Callum Bolger - Assistant Manager

Vinny Murphy - First Team Coach

"We wish Darren and his coaching team all the very best of luck during their time with the Blues."

Meanwhile Stimson has released a statement saying he is 'disappointed and frustrated' by the club's decision to dispense with his services.

He says: "I am disappointed and frustrated at not being given the time and games to get us into a healthy position by Christmas.

"After much hard work in the past few weeks and also taking a cut in the budget , I have put a squad together that looking at the next five fixtures with teams in the bottom five, I am confident that the wins would have come and the target would have been reached.

"I would like to thank Lee, Gavin, Glyn and Steve Stuart for all their support while I was manager of this great club.

"I also wish to thank my players for all their efforts.

"Lastly the fans, you are all absolutely amazing."