TOTTON & Eling have selected Jay Keating as the man to take the Sydenhams Division One club forward.

The Millers see the former Gosport Borough under-21s development squad boss as the right fit for a club who are building their future on youth.

Previously manager of Dorchester Town reserves, Keating is well versed with the Wessex League scene having worked under Phil Simkin at Hamworthy United. He also had a brief spell at the Folland Sports helm during the summer of 2015.

Keating has brought coach Steven Hook onto the T&E management team with him and the pair will work in tandem with established club duo Rich Hayter and ex-Saint Jo Tessem.

T&E secretary Rob Lomax said: “Two or three people applied for the job and Jay seemed to be the right fit for what we were looking for.

“We’re trying to make it a younger club and we’re hoping he has good contacts among young players.

“Rich and Jo will still be involved and will have a big say. It’s not a case of them moving aside.

“It will take a bit of time to get everything working naturally, but we think we’ve got a nice blend and we’ll go from there.”

Part of that “blend” is newly-appointed reserve team boss Mathew Payne who has managed Braishfield for the last few years in the Southampton Saturday Premier Division.

Welcoming the two new faces on board, a T&E statement said: "Jay has expressed his excitement about this opportunity. He is looking forward to working with the players at the club and the vision of the committee on moving the club forward to the next level.

"Mat is looking forward to his new role and the challenges ahead continuing the development of young players."

Keating replaces departed T&E boss James Phillips who has since taken on a coaching/assistant manager’s post at Sydenhams One rivals AFC Stoneham.

Totton & Eling kick off the new season at Fawley AFC on Tuesday (August 1) and then hit the road to Weymouth Reserves next Saturday (August 5).