GREAT Wakering Rovers manager Gary Ansell has begun his shake up of the club’s youth set-up after promoting Tom Harding to under-21 boss.

Rovers have released former under-21s manager Steve Southgate, after 10 months in the job, with Harding, the current coach of the under-18s side, stepping up to fill the void.

Harding will run the Rovers youth set-up and will hope to play a significant role in improving links between the first-team and the junior sides.

Craig Shipman will be the under-21 assistant manager and Matt Cardy the under-18s number two.

“Tom Harding has been given the opportunity to manage both the under-18 and the under-21 teams,” said Ansell. “Tom has a very good reputation in youth football and has a great knowledge of players in these age groups.

“Tom will also be tasked with looking at the Great Wakering Rovers youth set up as a whole, getting to know the managers, coaches and players with a view to organising and streamlining the production conveyor belt from age group to age group.

“This will give Great Wakering Rovers the best possible chance of progressing the talent through to the first team.”

“I would like to thank Steve Southgate for his assistance and professionalism while managing the reserves last season and the under-21s this season,” added Ansell. “He stepped in to run both sides when Great Wakering Rovers reserves and the under-21’s were going through managerial changes.”