COLNEY Heath have appointed long serving players Scott Lacey and Wes Awad as their new management team for 2008/09. The Magpies were promoted into the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in 2005/06

COLNEY Heath have appointed long serving players Scott Lacey and Wes Awad as their new management team for 2008/09.

The Magpies were promoted into the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in 2005/06 and, after surviving the first season in the top flight, they have become stronger and comfortably secured their status this season. Manager Craig Johnstone has enjoyed three years of success with the club and is stepping aside to become General Manager with Lacey and Awad taking charge on match days. Johnstone said: "I am quite excited. Scott Lacey has eight years at the football club and is a top goalscorer down there. Wes Awad won the First Division with us and they both come from a sales background so they sell themselves very well. It is an exciting opportunity for them to put their stamp on their managerial careers at a club that has been successful.

"They are both still young and are available to sign on as players if needed. They have got their own ideas about how to generate money for the club and have access to four or five players that we need to strengthen the squad. Hopefully it will be good times."

Johnstone will step up into his new role at the end of the current campaign and will be focussed on providing as much support to the management team as possible. He said: "Saturday will be my last home game as manager and, after the away game at Kingsbury London Tigers, I will hang the managerial gloves up and let Scott and Wes take over. I will support them as much as I can.

"We have beaten the points tally from last year and to go out after the recent derby win against London Colney makes it all the better. We are ahead of Welwyn Garden City which is a big achievement for us to be competing against those sort of teams. We have made progress but mentally, physically and financially I have had it.

"It is thanks to Dave Little with the reserves who has been able to bring some players on. He has worked his socks off to provide me with players. The committee have been good to me. I'd like to thank Martin Marlborough the chairman and Pete Stevenson. They have backed me 100 per cent.