Basildon United are looking for a manager to take them into the new millennium, with chairman John Moran predicting a bright future for the Schweppes Essex Senior League club.

Micky Hall has had to step down from the managerial hot seat due to work commitments, although both he and assistant Mark Keune hope to continue as players. Moran expects the club to be ready to move into their eagerly-awaited new home in two years.

It's some seven years now since plans were first discussed for Basildon to move from Gardiners Close - the whole area is to be developed - to a brand new home in Courtauld Road, just off the A127.

Now, however, those plans at last look likely to bear fruit. Billericay based property developer Martin Dawn PLC, which now has control at Southend United, has taken over the lease at Bees' current home and will be responsible for the new development.

However, Moran was quick to quash fears that Basildon's soccer team might be swallowed up by Blues with Southend, desperately needing a new home themselves, moving into Courtauld Road.

He said: "That is not on the agenda at all. Martin Dawn is involved in this purely on the development side and the site at Courtauld Road would in no way be suitable for League football."

Moran added that Basildon were now under the control of a consortium of businessmen, all of whom would be ploughing money into the club to ensure a brighter future.

He said: "Our long-term aim is to regain the place at Ryman League that we gave up during the 1980s. We will not be carrying out any improvements at Gardiners Close apart from ensuring that we keep up to Essex Senior standards.

"The last few years have been difficult for the club and our fans, but I can now promise that things will happen pretty quickly and there will be a far brighter future."

Anyone interested in applying for the managerial post should write to John Moran at the new club's offices at Millennium House, Timberlog Lane, Basildon, Essex. SS14 1PA.

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