NEW manager Jamie Tompkins is confident Ascot United can go from strength to strength, writes Dave Wright.

He will take charge of a side that, after a difficult first half to the season, has been really flying of late, impressively pulling themselves clear of the relegation zone in the Hellenic League’s Premier Division.

Tompkins, who works for Championship side Brentford, has been the Yellamen’s head coach this season, having joined them last season as their Under 23 development manager.

But he has now been appointed first-team manager, taking over from Neil Richards, who becomes their director of football and a member of the club’s board.

Tompkins will be backed by Aaron Steadman as head coach with Dan Masters also joining the coaching staff, both having recently left Maidenhead United’s U23 set-up.

It has been rumoured several of Maidenhead’s talented youngsters will also be following them to the Racecourse Ground, but Tompkins said: “It is too early to talk about players for next season.”

Speaking to the News after the Yellamen had beaten Woodley United 1-0 on Saturday, Tompkins said: “We have now won eight of our last 11 games and kept clean sheets in five of them.

“The talent has always been there in the group, so it’s been about getting the confidence, belief and consistency instilled into them. We finally matched all that up towards the end of the season and we will be looking to build on that going into next season.”

Tompkins will continue to work with Brentford during the week, where he is involved with their Community Sports Trust, managing their football development programmes.

The managerial changes were revealed to the players last Saturday with Richards commenting: “Jamie has shown incredible commitment to Ascot United over the last 18 months in both his role as development team manager and head coach of the first team.

“He has the complete respect of the current squad and the full support of the board. I am confident Jamie will set new standards and drive the senior section forward over the next few years in what is an exciting and transformational period for the club”.

Ascot chairman Mike Harrison added: “We are very grateful to Neil, Jamie and, of course, the players for what they a have achieved after a difficult start to the season.

“We can look forward with real optimism to next season in the Hellenic Premier League, with Jamie at the helm, a young and improving squad and Neil leading football development throughout the whole club.”