STEVE LOVELL succeeded Clive Walker as Ashford Town manager on Wednesday in a shock change at the top.

Club owner Don Crosbie made the change despite Walker registering a second straight win with Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Whitstable.

Lovell, the 47-year-old former Wales international striker, ended his fourth spell in charge of Sittingbourne on Tuesday and was installed as Walker’s replacement on Wednesday with the brief of leading the club into the Blue Square Premier.

Walker had talks on Wednesday night with Mr Crosbie who wants him to remain at Homelands in the role of coach, scout and youth development manager.

“Ashford Town’s ambition is to reach the Blue Square Premier and in Steve Lovell we believe we have the man who can take us there,” said Mr Crosbie.

Ashford are without a weekend first team fixture and Lovell will take his first training session on Saturday before taking charge for the first time at Chipstead on Tuesday.

He said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to meeting the challenge. All the vibes from Ashford are so strong."

Walker retorted: “I’m in a daze because I only learned about this late on Tuesday night when someone rang me to say there was a statement on the club website."

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