Highly-respected non-league manager Gary Calder has this week taken over as manager of Billericay Town following the dramatic sacking of long serving John Kendall.

Calder, who moves from Ryman League Premier Division rivals Enfield, has been given a five year contract at New Lodge to built a side aiming for Conference League football.

On Thursday the new manager, who has also had successful managerial spells at both Purfleet and Grays Athletic, was due to announce the signing of four new players with the promise of more to follow before the season starts in August.

Billericay Town Chairman Rod Moore, said it was the beginning of a new era at the club which involved significant development both on and off the field.

"We believe this is the right time and the right step looking to the future," he said. "We have a new five year business plan for the club and we have given Gary a five year contract to coincide with this."

"I believe it will be the beginning of an exciting new era for the club and having the right people in place was crucial," he said. "I'm not promising supporters that by the end of the five years we will be in the Conference but it's our aim to now progress in that direction."

On the decision not to renew John Kendall's yearly contract was taken by the club management "having taken everything into consideration."

The chairman paid to tribute to him for all the hard work he had put in over the 20-odd years with the club.

"John has been a loyal servant to club and a great servant for which we have thanked him," he said. "He helped us to gain promotion to the Premier Division and was given a season to help establish ourselves in this division.

"But we felt there was now a need for a change and the time was right for us to look further ahead which is why we have appointed Gary Calder on a long term deal," he said.

"I am extremely optimistic about the future and I know Gary has the reputation and background that we feel will achieve our aims."

Calder has already announced that he will be bringing his whole backroom staff with him from Enfield to complete the biggest ever shake-up on the playing side at New Lodge.

Already former Blues favourites Gary Waters, Chris Moore and Craig Davidson have moved to Canvey Island and there will other members of last season's first team also moving on.

For the departure of Kendall - the club chairman declined to call it a sacking - it is the end of a long and rewarding association which started back in 1987 when he was appointed assistant manager to the then manager Brian Moffatt.

He moved in as caretaker manager in November 1989 before taking completely taking over early the following year.

Kendall remained at the helm for over nine years during which he established a commendable record for success on the field.

His managership saw two Ryman League promotions and the club reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase and the first round of the FA Cup.

His sides also made it to three Essex Senior Cup finals and one success in the Essex Thameside Trophy.

But what sparked the current backroom upheaval was the disappointing second half performance in their return season to the top flight of the Ryman League.

After being league leaders early on the side fell away and ended up in a mediorce position which, it is understood, prompted heated discussions amongst the club's management board.

Meanwhile development work at the New Lodge ground is underway which is aimed at providing better facilities with a view of possibly gaining a Conference League ground grading in due course.

The club will continue to allow Dr Martens League Southern Division side Chelmsford City to ground share for the coming season - an arrangement that brings in £40,000 a season for the Blues.

John Kendall who has been dismissed as manager of Billericay Town after more than 20 years association with the club.

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