The Club is delighted to announce that John Maggs has been appointed to fill the First Team Manager vacancy created by Sean Ray's resignation on the eve of the new season earlier this month.
Maggs should require little by way of introduction to Sussex based non-league supporters, after a playing and managerial career that has spanned over fifty years, and that was recognised by the award of the Football Association Medal in March 2013.
At the time, he was coming towards the end of a twelve month spell in charge at Crawley Down Gatwick, having initially joined the Anvils as assistant manager in the summer of 2011, helping them reach the final of the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time.
In his playing days, Maggs was a one time England Schoolboys International goalkeeper of great renown, joining Crawley Town in 1963 and going on to set the West Sussex side's all-time appearance record with over 700 to his credit. Seven years after retiring as a player, he stepped up to manage the Reds in 1987 and stayed at the helm for thirteen seasons, combining his duties with those of club chairman towards the end of his tenure.
After thirty-seven years at Town Mead, Maggs moved on to Horsham, where he spent the next eleven seasons, leading the Hornets to two promotions and to the second round of the FA Cup in 2007. Financial issues arising from the sale of the club's former Queen Street ground eventually led to Maggs' departure, and since his two year stint at Crawley Down ended, he has occupied a General Manager position for Tonbridge Angels.
Maggs will begin the latest chapter of a wonderful career as United welcome Ramsgate to the Pilot Field for a league fixture tomorrow, five days before the two teams meet again in the preliminary round of this season's FA Cup. He takes control of a side sitting second in the table, with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches under the admirable caretaker stewardship of Terry White and Mark Stapley.
Commenting on the new appointment, U's Chairman Dave Walters said, "We are delighted to have secured the services of such an experienced and well respected manager as John, and are looking forward to working with him and to taking the Club forward. Terry and Mark have done a great job in their caretaker capacity, for which we thank them sincerely, and we are hoping that both will stay on to work within the new set-up."
Mixed feelings Dan, he is Crawley after all, what will Windy say? Only joking (mostly) he certainly has a good cv, so hope he'll be very successful. Also hope he keeps Terry and Mark on.
Yeah....pretty pleased with that. Surprised but pleased.
Clearly he'll need to assess what he's got to work with.....and then hopefully bring in a few new faces to strengthen the squad.
Best news for ages, if he can create the same sort of partnership with Terry that Peter Sillett had with Micky Crowe, we'll be on our way to Lowestoft and Wealdstone next season. How about Boxing Day 2014...John Maggs's Hastings United against Garry Wilson's Lewes........that's proper football !!!!
Fantastic appointment well done to club for getting experience man at last. maybe he was intersted before but club could not afford him but now with fa cup money club can afford him. i guess he has a high salary so maybe it was never doable 18 month ago and i am glad sean ray not here anymore but thanks to him i think club is now as strong as it has been for some tim with fa cup money and now maggs. i guess all about timing and this feels very good.
Mixed feelings Dan, he is Crawley after all, what will Windy say? Only joking (mostly) he certainly has a good cv, so hope he'll be very successful. Also hope he keeps Terry and Mark on.
HA HA good point Matt . I just admit I forgot his Crawley connection as I always think of him as Horsham,which is wrong of me I know .Good luck to him anyway . Thanks to Terry and Mark for the best start we have had in any league for years though,despite the performances,apparently .
Most importantly we need to give John time to get the team playing how he wants, a few draws or losses shouldn't get us too down now as he needs to get the style of play he is looking for.
Although I think Maggs is a decent manager, over his time within Sussex football, he has also been associated with clubs who have had financial issues, hopefully these issues had nothing to do with him, but a note of caution before we all get carried away.
Sounds like a good appointment but only time will tell...hope he keeps terry and mark on his team and doesnt bring in new back room staff....massive thanks to terry and mark for stabilising the team in recent weeks.
Personally hope both Mark and Terry stay, can see them doing most training ( with Maggs overseeing ) and touchline stuff with John observing and changing tactics as required.
See John as more of a prominent director of football role, using his contacts to get in good players and also to use his experience to tutor both existing coaches.
Why not welcome Sean back with open arms ChrisB? He has been at the PF for the recent matches & seems to be on excellent terms with most established players. Certainly as a player he would be better than most of our current defensive players, & he has not yet accepted offers from other clubs although I understand that he has received several at RP level.
Sean is a couple of weeks away from full fitness and I think he will be taking that time to think over his options. I wish him all the best wherever he decides to ply his trade, he's put a lot of hard work into this club.
Like i said too much baggage, a former manager playing with players he managed its not ideal, Kelly and Judge are doing fine. We also need to attract better players even if some are returning ones and a few have fallen out with Sean.
Personally, I would still love to see Sean playing for us. Think he would be immense at this level and would undoubtedly reach double figures in the goals column. Just think under John's management, and his years of experience, any baggage would be well and truly buried, and lets not forget, the team we have at the moment is the team that Sean put together, so not sure there would be any resentment. Agree though that Kelly and Judge have with out a doubt, been our best 2 players this season. Its also rumored that Ade was keen on returning with his brother as well. Wonder if John could talk DW round or is that never going to happen?
When I first read that they had appointed John Maggs I was disappointed. can't help but remember him as manager of arch rivals and all the misery they put upon us- that doesn't change regardless of the different paths the two clubs have followed. I also remember the pitch invasion as Crawley fans try to oust him... So I wanted to ponder some questions as I have clearly missed wheat has got everyone excited (not saying he is poor appointment just don't know)
what success did he have at Crawley (apart from years of beating us!!)? He left before they were promoted to the conference Right?
what has he achieved at the other clubs he was at? I thought Horsham were relegated?
Is it a long term appointment, it said he has been involved in nonleague football for over 50 years, unless that includes as a ballboy!! He must be coming up,to 70?
Lots of assertion on here about his quality is he more coach or hands off? man management? why is he so highly regarded?
Will he pursue as Sean had started to the use of analysis?
Is he known as a big spender on players or sussex's version of a Redknappy wheeler dealer?
I think he should get credit for what he's done elsewhere - he is highly regarded. Crawley were promoted because people ploughed lots of money in - and I believe they're up for sale now. I seem to recall there were back room goings on that saw him leave that lot. And didn't Maggs do a decent job at Horsham with fairly limited finances till they had their big FA Cup run a few years ago? It all seemed to go belly up there when they tried to get a new ground sorted - I'm not sure he would've had anything to do with that.
Early to draw conclusions - but Walters seems to have got this right and has not gone down the cul de sac of appointing a big name - who can forget the non achieving Neville Southall era? I just hope Terry remains involved - and don't see any reason why he shouldn't as he came on board as a coach anyway.
Let's see how it goes - and let's see what players he can bring in - because everyone seems agreed that the squad - for it's great start - is lightweight.
