CHERRIES favourite Mark Molesley has been appointed director of football at Gosport Borough with immediate effect.

Gosport, languishing in 20th in Southern Premier South, have been without a manager since the sacking of Shaun Gale earlier in mid-November.

Molesley, 41, was in October sacked by Aldershot Town immediately after their 2-0 defeat by lower-league Chelmsford City in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

That ended a 13-month stay at the Shots and with it his first job since leaving Southend in April 2021, after a move from Weymouth the previous summer.

In a statement, Gosport confirmed Molesley would take charge of first-team activities at the AEI Stadium.

They said: “Gosport Borough Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of 41-year-old, ex-Weymouth manager and Bournemouth football professional Mark Molesley as Boro's new director of football.

“Mark brings to the club a wealth of experience both at this level and with recent managerial experience in the Football League with Southend United and Aldershot Town.

“As director of football, Mark will have full responsibility for all football matters throughout the club, and specifically the immediate responsibility for the Boro first team.”

Molesley’s first game in charge of Boro will be at home to Tiverton on Saturday.