Herne Bay have confirmed their new manager.

Former Faversham, Chatham, Cray Valley and Bowers & Pitsea boss James Collins replaces Steve Lovell at Winch’s Field following the Welshman’s departure last month.

News of Collins’ appointment eventually came from Bay on Thursday evening as he took his new players for the first time despite having watched last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Sevenoaks.

He joins with relegation-threatened Herne Bay 17th in Isthmian South East, nine points clear of the relegation zone and with two league matches in hand on fourth-bottom Lancing.

Collins had most recently been in charge of Isthmian Premier strugglers Bowers & Pitsea, helping them win the Isthmian North play-offs last campaign, but he resigned from his position with the Essex club on Christmas Eve.

He had earlier been at the Faversham Town helm from November 2019 until the 2022 summer.

His first fixture in charge of Bay will be a big one at home to basement boys Phoenix Sports this weekend (kick-off 1.30pm) before Tuesday night’s journey to Beckenham.