NEIL Hunt has accepted an offer to become Paul West's assistant at Eve-sham United, writes Mervyn Collins.

The popular Evesham High School educated Hunt resigned as manager of Malvern Town last month and West was quick to snap up his services as the Robins bid for a swift return to the Premier Division of the Southern League.

"I had a meeting with Neil and Brenzo (Micky Brennan) last Friday and things were ironed out very quickly," a delighted West recalled.

"Neil's knowledge will be valuable. He's an Evesham person and that was always in the back of my mind. I've known him a long time and, as my assistant manager, he will have a big input."

Hunt has been around local soccer circles for many years and has enjoyed great success at Malvern who may yet gain promotion to the Southern League after finishing third in the Midland Alliance last season.

"We are both young and we will hopefully feed off each other," continued West. "Micky will still be around as long as I am involved at the club and his man management skills will be a big help to both of us."

"Neil's ambitious like me and he has a big part to play in the future of the club. I am excited at the prospect at working with him and we have already spoken about bringing in some of his old players and I hope to have a couple signed up by the end of the week."

Before taking on the manager's job at Malvern, Hunt, who spent five years as a player at Cheltenham Town, managed Moreton Town and Littleton and he is delighted to be back at the club that he has supported all his life.

"Geographically it's the right move for me," Hunt explained. "I am coming to Evesham to be successful and help to get the club back into the Premier Division.

"I will be 100 per cent behind Paul West and I hope that he will be 100 per cent behind me. I am ambitious like Paul and, with the move to the new ground on the horizon, I can't wait to get started."

The regional make-up of the Southern League for next season will be revealed today and it is understood that a new Midlands League will mean less travelling next term.