Colchester United’s former head of youth development Steve Downey has taken over in the managerial hotseat at Stanway Rovers.

The vastly-experienced Northern Irish coach, who also managed Colchester United Ladies and was football development manager at the Colchester United Community Sports Trust before his time with the U’s, left his post at the Weston Homes Community Stadium earlier this year and has now been appointed as first-team manager at the Hawthorns.

Downey played for Rovers for three seasons in the late 1990s and takes over following the departure of joint bosses Rob Bate and Paul Symes to lead the team in their third season in the Ridgeons League premier division next year.

Stanway chairman Roy Brett said Downey had to beat off some stern competition to win the appointment, but his experience and plans to take the club forward had given him the edge.

Brett said: “Steve is one of the best known football coaches in Essex and comes to us with some 20 years experience of developing, managing and coaching football from the grass roots through to excellence level.

“He has a tremendous knowledge of football development initiatives on a local, regional and national level.”

Rovers’ chairman said 12 people had applied fro the post and he had been delighted with the quality of applicants, adding that it had been a tough process to decide on who to select, but Downey had stood out as the one they really wanted.

He added: “It is brilliant to have Steve here and he said he is looking forward to being in charge of the second-best team in Colchester.

“We think he is the best man for the job and what he brings to us is amazing.

“It was a very hard decision, but from all the applicants that we had, from every angle, he had more to offer not just the team but the club as a whole.”

Downey’s role at the Hawthorns will encompass far more than just his first-team responsibilities as they look to encourage the progression of youngsters from the ranks of Stanway Rovers Youth Football Club into the senior sides at the Hawthorns.

Club secretary Paul Rogers said: “We are looking to offer youngsters a complete progression from under-sevens into full men’s football and Steve will help that progression.”