GRAHAM Kemp has defended his controversial appointment as the new manager of Wessex League Christchurch.

Kemp will take the reins at the end of this season after stepping down as boss of Priory's local rivals Brockenhurst.

His selection has been met with raised eyebrows in some quarters at Hurn Bridge due to his chequered history with the club.

Kemp left Christchurch in the lurch when he performed a U-turn after being offered - and accepting - a player-manager's role at the club in 1998.

He had apparently agreed to join Priory despite being midway through a two-year contract with AFC Lymington, who were not prepared to let him leave.

And in 2003, he was accused of going back on an unwritten agreement, which hastened the departure of former Priory co-manager Nigel Cripps.

The Christchurch management claimed Kemp, then in his first spell as boss of Brock, had said he would not field John Grace in a match against Priory, just days after signing the defender.

But Grace subsequently turned out in the clash, with Cripps slamming Kemp's actions as "the last straw" in his decision to quit.

At the time, Cripps was quoted as saying "I've lost a lot of respect for Graham, and, to be honest, if I see the lad again, it will be too soon".

However, speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, Kemp admitted both incidents "could have been handled better", but added that "if you hold grudges in football, I don't think anybody would speak to anybody else".

He also said he felt that "people had long memories" and that "anything that went on almost a decade ago, doesn't really bear any relevance".

Christchurch acting-chairman Peter Rolph did not wish to comment on Kemp's involvement in either incident, but said the club was "absolutely delighted" with his appointment.

And a club statement said: "Graham brings to the club a wealth of experience of all aspects of Wessex League football and will be a pivotal part of our development plans."

The statement added: "The committee also express their sincere thanks to both Brian Le Boutillier and Luke Herridge for their hard work on behalf of the club during their caretaker role towards the end of the season and hope that they will continue with their long association with the club in the future."

Le Boutillier told the Daily Echo he was "bitterly disappointed" with the outcome, but added: "I would like to wish Graham all the very best. It's a great club and hopefully he will bring to the club something that the committee obviously thought I couldn't."

Herridge said he echoed Le Boutillier's sentiments.

Reserve team manager Alex Chalmers, who is due to step down at the end of this season, described Kemp's appointment as "strange" and said that the only two people who would have persuaded him to stay were Le Boutillier and Herridge.

Meanwhile, unsubstantiated rumours suggest Kemp may be planning to ask former Bashley midfielder Jimmy Sheppard to become his assistant.