PETERSFIELD Town’s new manager Andy Neal has been given one target after stepping into the role – keep the club in the Southern League.

Chairman Graeme Moir has said this is Neal’s key aim to complete this current season.

The caretaker manager agreed to take on the position of first team boss at the weekend after taking charge on a temporary basis initially when former manager Ian Saunders left Love Lane a little over a week before the start of the season.

Neal is now concentrating his efforts on recruiting players and some new coaching staff to help rebuild the Rams’ first team structure.

Moir has warned it will take time to stabilise things and for results to come but he believes Neal is the man to take the club forward.

“We have conducted a thorough process to recruit a new manager and Andy is the ideal candidate for the job.

“He has worked tirelessly since Ian left to keep things together and now he will have the chance to bring in new players and restructure the coaching team.

“He knows the club inside out and he is fully aware of what the talented youngsters in the reserves are capable of too.

“In some ways we are having to start our season again and it may feel like we are going through pre-season for a few weeks.

“However, the key thing for this club this season is to retain our Southern League status and that is what everyone is working towards now at Love Lane.”