Di Paola named new Horsham manager

The former East Preston and Hastings United boss has been annouced as the new man at the helm of the Hornets just over 24 hours after Cliff Cant and Anthony Storey were axed.

The 34-year-old will take charge of a Horsham side, who sit bottom of the Ryman League South Division, immediately ahead of their game at Faversham on Saturday.

Di Paola, who was interviewed for the Hornets job in January, led East Preston to the County League Division 1 title last season before a brief spell at Hastings.

Horsham chairman Kevin Borrett said: “Dom impressed us immensely when we first interviewed him for the manager’s position in January,but we felt that the start made by Anthony Storey and Cliff Cant earned them the opportunity to try and take us forward.

“Sadly, it didn’t work out as we had hoped and so we have given Dom a mandate to start preparing and planning for next season which, unless we are reprieved or the subject of a league reorganisation, is expected to be in the Sussex County League.

“We expect Dom to make even greater use of local players, and strengthen the link between the senior team and under-18s as well as place greater focus on pre-match training.”

Di Paola’s management career started at Clymping where got them promoted into the County League and won the Division 3 title.

He followed that up with a season at Worthing United before a hugely successful time at EP, where he won a huge haul of cups including both the Division 1 and 2 titles.

The new boss is expected to bring his usual management team of Jan Miller, Ian Browne and Adam Westwood to Gorings Mead.