HILL HITS TOP FOR SARRIES – AT 22!

CRISIS club Cheltenham Saracens have appointed a prime candidate for the title of the youngest manager in the Non-League pyramid.

Former Bishops Cleeve player Ashley Hill, 22, has become the Hellenic One West outfit’s sixth manager this year.

He has taken over from short-lived joint bosses Ian Giles and Ryan Goodson, who quit after last Saturday’s 7-0 defeat by Shortwood United.

Hill, who played in that defeat, has level one and two badges and has recently coached in the USA. He also coaches at Cheltenham Town’s academy and is planning to take his UEFA B licence.

The club has given him the job on a trial basis, and if successful, the position will be made permanent, said Saracens secretary Bob Attwood. “We will see how he gets on for the next two games,” he said.

Saracens are also looking for a more experienced assistant for Hill.

Giles said he had found it impossible to run the team, never having had the same side for two games in a row.

A bid to bring in fresh faces with the help of the agency run by former Leicester City and Aston Villa striker Julian Joachim was the last throw of the dice.

Giles and Goodson, who had just 12 games in charge, took over from Rich Stevenson, whose team conceded 40 goals in his five games in charge.

Stevenson took over before the start of the season following the shock resignation of Simon Goodwin, who quit without his side kicking a ball, leading to a mass exodus of players.

In turn, Goodwin had superseded Nick Locke, who resigned at the end of last season after leading Saracens to runners-up spot in the division.