LEE Connor is looking forward to working alongside Michael Walther in the Basildon United dugout.

Connor, who was in caretaker charge for the Bees’ goalless draw with AFC Sudbury following Marc Harrison’s resignation, has been named joint-manager alongside Walther.

And Connor, who has left his role as chairman of the club as a result of taking over the managerial reins, believes former Barkingside boss Walther deserves a chance to manage in the Isthmian North.

Connor, who was chairman of Basildon for three years, said: “First of all, I looked at my own situation in the club.

“After taking the team at Sudbury on Saturday, I thought I would like to take on the challenge of managing the team.

“David Maxwell - who has taken over as chairman - and myself drew up a few candidates for the job, but we needed to find someone that would fit the bill.

“Appointing Mike as joint-manager might come as a shock to a few people, but I have known him for a few years and we always talk about football whenever we see each other.

“I saw him at Clapton when I was the assistant manager of Basildon and, although he had a bit of a rough ride at Barkingside, I thought he needed a break.

“It’s a similar situation to when we appointed Marc Harrison as manager because I thought Marc needed a break then after managing in the Essex Olympian League.

“It was important to find the right man for the job, someone that I got on with and can trust, and I think Mike is the right man for the job.”

Walther, who has left the top job at Essex Senior League side Barkingside in order to take up the role, will join Connor in the dugout for the first time when the Bees welcome Felixstowe & Walton United to the Ho Ho Stadium on Saturday.

And, although Basildon are flying high in third place after winning promotion to the Isthmian North last term, Connor maintains that the club’s pre-season targets remain the same.

“Our target has always been to remain in the division,” added Connor.

“You can see the position we are in, but there are also a lot of teams around us that are starting to gather some pace.

“The target is to stay in the league and that will remain the brief until that has been achieved.

“If and when we have achieved that, we will then set ourselves some other small targets.

“But we are only thinking of safety at the moment.”