Mark Hawkes has spoken of his delight at being named the new Heybridge Swifts manager.

"When I first walked into the club 20 years ago I never thought I would ever become first-team manager," he said.

"It really is a dream come true."

He will replace former boss Dave Greene who handed in his resignation last week to pursue a new life in Spain.

Hawkes has spent over 20 years with the Scraley Road outfit.

For the past three years he has been in charge of the reserve team and he has also clocked in over 30 first-team games for the side as a player.

Swifts have been keen to appoint a new manager, holding interviews a day after Greene announced his resignation.

Hawkes' first task will be to re-sign all of last year's squad. Heybridge retained their Ryman League premier division status on the last day of the season following a successful final third of the campaign which saw them finish as one of the league's form sides.

Former Swifts manager and player Robbie Nihill will become Hawkes' assistant.

Club chairman Mick Springett said: "All at Swifts look forward to the beginning of a new chapter in the club's impressive history."

Greene's former right-hand man Dean Curtis was 'disappointed' that his own bid for the post failed.

He said: "I thought that I had the credentials for the post."

Curtis has been asked to stay on at the club in a coaching role

Published Tuesday, May 20, 2003

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