BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent hope to have their next manager in place by the weekend.

The R's are on the lookout for a new boss following James Webster's decision to step down and take charge at Aveley, last Tuesday.

Assistant manager Chris Smith has joined him and so too has head coach Ryan Salter, who had taken the Regent team for Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Tooting and Mitcham.

Brightlingsea are set to begin the interview process today.

"There's been a fair bit of interest," said Regent chairman Terry Doherty, who revealed that the club have received 22 applications.

"We're interviewing someone today and I'd like to have someone in place by the weekend.

"We don't want to rush into anything because it's a big and important decision to make.

"However, ideally, we'd like our new manager to be appointed by the time we go to Harrow Borough on Saturday.

"It's important to get someone in to stabilize things because we don't want the players to get restless.

"There's been a fair bit of interest and a wide variety of applicants - some I know and some I don't know.

"We'll play things by ear and see how they pan out in the next few days."

Coach Pip Boyland was due to take last night's training session.

Doherty admitted it had been a crazy week, since news of Webster's departure broke last Tuesday evening.

"It's been absolutely non-stop," he said.

"My phone hasn't stopped ringing and it was a very odd experience on Saturday.

"We had a good crowd but everyone was subdued afterwards, which is understandable after a 3-0 defeat."

Doherty, who chaired a board meeting at the club on Friday night, admitted being surprised by Salter's decision to join Webster at Aveley.

Salter was part of the club's successful coaching team that won last year's Ryman League division north title by a huge 14 points.

He was made head coach at the beginning of the season and, speaking in a Gazette interview last week, he had indicated he would like to be considered as Webster's replacement.

"It's a shame, because Ryan's been here for years," said the Regent chairman.

"His departure has come as a bit of a shock but we wish him well for the future."

Webster was denied a maiden win in his first game as Aveley boss after a stoppage-time equaliser forced the Millers to share the spoils from a 2-2 draw with Soham Town Rangers on Saturday.