HICKS IS IN THE FRAME AT LUDLOW

FORMER Shawbury United centre-back Luke Hicks has been named as the new manager of phoenix club Ludlow.

Hicks, 28, also played for AFC Ludlow, who folded last summer after manager Dave Cooper was unable to get enough players interested in joining the Shropshire club.

But several of the players got together over the winter with a view to forming a new club to represent the town.

The new team has entered the West Midlands Regional League Division Two and will play their home games at the Ludlow Football Stadium.

Hicks, who was born in the town and played under Cooper, has also been on Welshpool’s books. He has named former Ludlow Town Colts boss Chris Waldron as his assistant.

Former Wales schoolboy international midfielder Jamie Hammonds

Kevin Bursnell, of Shrewsbury-based DM Recruitment,which approached the club while looking to sponsor a men’s side, has become chairman.

Hicks, who is in his first managerial role, has given himself two seasons to get promotion. “I’m proud to manage my home team,” he said.

Ludlow Town were founded in 1890 and in 1995 merged with local rivals Ludlow Colts, the combined club playing under the Town banner and winning the West Midlands (Regional) League and promotion to the Midland Alliance five years later.

Relegated in 2005, the club voluntarily relegated themselves to the Shropshire County League in 2010 due to financial reasons, and two years later entered receivership with debts of more than £400,000.

Replacement club AFC Ludlow entered the Mercian League in August 2012, but lasted only four years.

MINNOWS Newent Town have joined the Hellenic League – yet will still keep their first team in county football.

The club’s first team plays in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, which is two steps below Hellenic Division One. But they have now entered another team into Hellenic Division Two West, a competition which contains many reserve sides.

The idea is to give the club’s large group of young players the chance to play at an open age standard, and they will be split across both teams.