One of non-league soccer's top local names, John Kendall, is the new manager of Schweppes Essex Senior League Basildon United.

Kendall departed from Billericay Town at the end of last season after leading the New Lodge club from the depths of the Ryman League into the Premier Division in a glorious decade of success.

Now Bees are backing him to take the new town club forward into the next millennium - with hopes high that the club's new ground at Courtauld Road will be ready in two years time.

Said Basildon chairman John Moran: "We were delighted that a manager of John Kendall's stature was interested in joining us.

"This club has stood still for many years, but with the backing of a new consortium Basildon is on the verge of big things. We certainly think that John, with his tremendous knowledge of the non-league game and enthusiasm, is the man to carry us forward.

"We'll be looking to take a step up the non-league ladder to Ryman level as soon as our ground is ready and who knows how far we can go from there.

"This area has fantastic potential for support and I think there's a will among the people of Basildon to have a successful football team they can be proud of."

Said Kendall: "Since parting company with Billericay I have had a number of offers, but I met John Moran and the people at Basildon and liked what I heard.

"Certainly, after 25 years in the non-league game, most of it as a player or official at Billericay, I'm very ambitious. I believe that the club has a real chance of building itself up into something really special and I want to be part of it."

Kendall succeeds former Billericay player Micky Hall, who gave up the job due to business commitments, at Gardiners Close.

Although there will be no immediate pressure of getting success at Basildon, Kendall's pride will mean that he'll swiftly want to start building a side for early season FA Cup and Vase commitments at Grays and Clapton respectively.

The Senior League season starts on August 14.

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