A former Gillingham youth-team player has stepped into management.

Josh Staunton was appointed as Southern League Premier Division South side Poole Town’s new boss on Thursday.

The Canterbury-born defender initially started his senior career at Priestfield, being on loan with Maidstone United as Jay Saunders' men secured 2014/15 Isthmian Premier title glory, but was released by Gills that summer.

Spells at Charlton Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking, Halifax and Yeovil - skippering the Glovers as he made more than 100 appearances for them - followed.

Staunton, 31, first joined Poole Town in the 2023/24 season as a player following his departure from Boreham Wood, but he retired in December. Nevertheless, he, not only played for Poole, but also became club groundsman.

He took interim charge of the club alongside Jamie Whisken after Joe Lea and Pat Suraci quit as joint-bosses in early October before Staunton was given the top job on a permanent basis, having helped Poole win three of five fixtures. Yeovil legend Steve Rutter will be his assistant manager.

A statement from Poole’s board of directors read: “The board of Poole Town Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Josh Staunton as our new manager with Steve Rutter as his assistant.

“We have been greatly relieved with the way that Josh has steadied the ship following the departure of Joe Lea and Pat Suraci. The transition has been seamless and the spirit in the dressing room demonstrates how positively the players have responded to Josh.

“We feel very fortunate to have been able to turn to him when we needed a calm hand on the tiller and to say that he has impressed us during his probationary period as interim boss is an understatement.

“We look forward to working with him and Steve to achieve our ambitions.”

Title-chasing outfit Poole are at Bath this weekend before they welcome Hanwell Town to the Tatnam Ground on Tuesday.