Former Heybridge Swifts first-team coach Dean Curtis is heading back to his old stamping ground at Maldon Town.

Curtis was manager Dave Greene's right-hand man at the Scraley Road outfit last season.

But since Greene's resignation, and the appointment of new managerial duo Mark Hawkes and Rob Nihill, Curtis has been in limbo.

For Curtis, returning to a club he was coach with two years ago, this is a new challenge.

He said: "It's a new kind of pressure at Maldon.

"In my time at Heybridge there was always the knowledge that at the beginning of every season it would be a fire-fight to try and stay up.

"At Maldon it will be different, I will be under pressure to bring success to the club."

Despite going from the Ryman League premier division with Heybridge Swifts to the Ridgeons League premier division Curtis does not consider it to be a drop in quality.

"Maldon have a squad with players such as Nicky Smith and Robbie Reinelt and they would fit into the line-up of any top Ryman League club."

Maldon boss Colin Wallingon is delighted with his new appointment to the managerial team.

"I respect Dean and I know he wants to see Maldon go that next step forward."

Published Wednesday, June 4, 2003

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