EX-SAINT Jo Tessem has taken on a temporary new role at Totton & Eling.

The former Norway international is sharing caretaker charge of team affairs with Richie Hayter following the departure of James Phillips from the Millers Park helm.

Phillips, a former Romsey Town boss and Team Solent coach, has left the club by mutual consent after one season in charge, having led the Millers to 15th place in Sydenhams One.

A T&E statement said: “We would like to thank outgoing manager James Phillips for all his hard work and wish him all the best for the future.

“We are looking for a new first-team manager/coach and are also looking for people to run our development squad.”

The club are due to kick off the new season away at Fawley AFC on Wednesday, August 2 and T&E secretary Rob Lomax said: “It’s never ideal to be looking for a new manager – especially at this time of year.

“But we’ve put adverts out on social media and we’ve already had a few people interested, one of whom is away at the moment.

“Richie (Hayter) could do the job, but he said why don’t you advertise and you might get someone better qualified to do it than all of us.

"In the meantime there’s no major awkwardness within the club.

“Richie and Jo are doing the job between them and they’ve taken it on for the foreseeable future.

“We’ll have chat with whoever applies and we’ll make the decisions that we think are best for the club.”

Tessem, a long-time member of the T&E coaching staff, is still donning his boots at the age of 45. He made 27 starts last season.