11/3/09

Steve Ibbitson has tonight been appointed caretaker manager of Lewes.

He will work alongside player-coach Danny Cullip for the remaining ten games of the season, starting with Saturday’s visit of Kidderminster Harriers to the Dripping Pan.

Lewes Chairman Terry Parris was charged with finding a successor to Kevin Keehan, who resigned on Wednesday night after a fourteenth consecutive league defeat at Rushden and Diamonds. His assistant Terry Graves has also left the club.

Parris indicated that he was looking to promote from within and has acted swiftly to fill the post amidst the on-going financial uncertainty around the club.

He said, “The most important thing is the financial issue. We have a deadline coming up which we need to meet financially. We need to get through these games over that period.

“As a club we have a lot to look forward to if we can get through this, and it is important that we stick together at this difficult time.”

Ibbitson, a former Rooks player, is likely to be a popular choice as manager amongst Lewes fans who never really accepted Keehan’s appointment, following on so closely behind the departure of Stephen King last April after he secured the club’s promotion to the Blue Square Premier.

The new boss has been the joint manager of the successful Lewes Under 18 side this season, alongside Jason Hopkinson, as they’ve led their team to the third round of the FA Youth Cup against Hull and the final of the Sussex County Cup next month.

Ibbitson will be familiar with many of the first team players, with David Wheeler, Tim Rivers, Fred Foreman and Grant Hall all having made the step up from the Under 18 team, whilst Cullip spoke admiringly after last Saturday’s match at Mansfield, about the spirit of the young players who have been called into action this season.

Hopkinson and Under 18 coach Steve Eke will both help the new pair with their managerial duties this season, as the team looks to regroup for the next campaign.

Speaking to The Argus after making the appointment, Parris said “I have known Steve for many years. We played together for a number of years, not for Lewes, but for Newick Rangers who were a top Sunday League side. He is a good coach, he has played a good standard of football with Leatherhead and Sutton and he is well respected.

“He was one of the toughest players I have known in football and he is a very down to earth character. He gets the best out of people and he is an all-round nice guy.

“Danny has a lot of time for Steve and is impressed by him.

“I had a long chat with Danny. He feels he has a lot to offer in the dressing room and on the pitch. He thinks he can bring the lads on and that it is a job half done.”