CHAIRMAN Steve Jefferis named Gavin Reeves as Verwood Town’s new manager and insisted a return for former boss Adie Arnold had never been on the cards.

Reeves, a popular coach with the Potters, Poole Town and most recently Christchurch, steps up to the top role for the first time following Alan Lay’s resignation 10 days ago.

Arnold, who masterminded Verwood’s ascent to their highest level during eight-and-a-half years in charge, claimed “quite a few people from within the club have been contacting me but not the chairman” before ruling himself out of the running.

But Jefferis was adamant that Arnold’s name had not been mentioned by his fellow committee members.

“Adie was never in the frame,” said the Potterne Park chief.

“We had a meeting on Tuesday following Alan’s resignation and some of the senior lads were there as well. By that time, we had received six applications.

“From there, we whittled it down to three ahead of the interview process but Adie’s name was not mentioned. I don’t know where that came from.

“If anyone did speak to him, it was without my knowledge. There was certainly nothing said at committee level and he was never considered.”

Meanwhile, Jefferis vowed to give 47-year-old Reeves his full backing and voiced his hope that the rookie boss would bring stability to the role.

“Gavin brings passion and an enthusiasm for the club,” he added. “He is absolutely desperate for a chance, a fantastic coach and very popular with the lads from his time with us.

“We think it is the right thing to do to give him the opportunity to prove himself as a manager at this level. It is his first break and we will support him to make the best of it.

“It is recognised that he is our third manager inside 12 months. Alan’s departure was a shock and now, we want a bit of stability at the club. We don’t want to be looking for another manager in another year.

“We need to stay in the Premier Division and ultimately, we want to push on to the top 10 but we haven’t managed that in four seasons and we are not expecting to sail up the table straight away.

“It is a difficult job and the league is only going to get stronger. Gavin needs to be given time and that is what he will get.”

But Reeves, who is in the process of contacting the club’s existing players, hopes to move things along at pace.

“I’d like to thank the committee for giving me the opportunity,” he said. “I realise it is going to be difficult but I am not afraid of hard work and will put in the time and effort.

“My first aim is to make sure we are well prepared and organised. We will go out to win every game and I want to finish as high as possible.

"I don’t see why we shouldn’t have the top 10 in mind.”