Hornets sign five ahead of Hastings clash

Interim Hornets boss Anthony Storey has been working hard over the past few days alongside assistant Cliff Cant to bolster their depleted ranks.

He has brought in a number of new faces to freshen up the side in the wake of two heavy defeats and will be keen to make his mark as the club works towards appointing a permanent successor to the outgoing player-manager Gary Charman.

Defender Callum Sheriff has joined from Ringmer, 20-year-old central midfielder George Branford has signed from Bognor and a much-needed striker has put pen to paper in the shape of Greg Berry from Eastbourne Town.

Defenders Richie Welch, from Eastbourne Borough, and former Sutton United player Tom Hughes, who has plenty of experience at Ryman League level, have also joined the club.

Sherriff is a former Brighton & Hove Albion youngster and captained Ringmer last season, while Branford was on Chelsea and Portsmouth’s books before starting the season at Lewes.

Storey appears to be staking a claim for the vacant manager’s position and notching a win tonight for Horsham, who are five points adrift at the foot on the Ryman League South Division, will do himself a big favour of landing the job.

The club have said that if the experienced midfielder wants the job on a permanent basis, he must apply with all the other candidates.

Nineteenth placed Hastings were also managerless until last night when they appointed Nigel Kane as the replacement for Dom Di Paola who quit the Pilot Field last week.

This is the first meeting between the two sides this season after tonight’s game was postponed in November.

Kick-off at Gorings Mead is 7.30pm.