BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent have appointed FC Clacton boss Tom Austin as their new manager.

The R's have moved quickly to announce their new manager, after Kem Izzet parted company with the Pitching In League Premier club yesterday.

Austin was FC Clacton's longest-serving first-spell manager, having been appointed in February 2018.

He guided the Seasiders to their highest finish in the last 15 years in 2018/19 when his side finished sixth in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division.

Brightlingsea chairman Terry Doherty said: "I would like to place on record our thanks to Kem and Jon for all their efforts at the club in very trying times.

"I am very excited by the appointment of Tom Austin and club legend Ryan Salter.

"We have been tracking their progress at FC Clacton for some time now and we have been impressed by what they have achieved.

"Although the lads are stepping up two levels I am sure they will get to grips with it quite quickly.

"Salts knows the Regent inside out and Tom is a very driven and ambitious young manager who in some ways reminds me of our most successful manager James Webster.

"I know from talking to both the lads they are relishing the opportunity to manage the team and ingratiate themselves into the Regent family.

"I would also like to thank Chairman Steve Andrews for allowing us to speak to Tom and Ryan as FC Clacton have helped pave the way for a bright future for both of them."

Austin will also bring his assistant manager Ryan Salter with him to the club.

Salter needs no introduction to anyone at Regent, having played 106 times for the club.

He was also an integral part of Brightlingsea's promotion team in 2016-17 when he was head coach under then manager James Webster.