After three months of conversations and transition planning, Andy Mortlock stepped down as chairman yesterday and it was agreed with the current board that I would be his successor.

First of all, I really want to thank Andy for his help during this period and for how welcome everyone associated with Phoenix has made me feel since I set foot in the club.

I am delighted to welcome Dekel Yehezkel to the board of directors alongside me, as well as Jimmy Stone, who will be joining Phoenix full-time as Director of Operations. Both will serve on the board alongside the existing members.

I am also delighted that current Club Secretary, Tony Highstead, is remaining in post. Tony has been incredibly helpful to date and his experience is going to be imperative as we move the club forward together.

Dekel, Jimmy and I are incredibly proud to be part of this club. It has a rich history; solid foundations and we arrive with fresh ideas and a plan to drive Phoenix Sports forward both on and off the pitch.

We are huge fans of non-league football and will be travelling home and away to watch Phoenix. We have met lots of supporters already but look forward to meeting many more between now and the end of the season.

Our immediate goal this season is for the first-team to secure our place in step four, and we firmly believe that Darren Anslow and his team are the right men to give us the best chance of doing that.

In an ideal world we’d have hoped to have a few more points on the board but there are plenty still to play for and we firmly believe the current squad, will pick up the points required to get us out of trouble.

As we look ahead, we’re focused on improving our infrastructure, growing our fan base, and making Phoenix a hub for the local community—a welcoming, family-friendly place to enjoy football. You, the supporters, are going to be crucial to everything we do.

One of the things that has impressed us most since coming on board is the potential of the club’s youth setup. We believe that developing young talent is a key part of our future, and we’re committed to supporting that growth. We will be working hard to make sure Phoenix is not only a fun, safe and enjoyable environment for young people to play football but can also offer a pathway to the club’s first-team.

Thank you for the warm welcome and we're excited for the journey and we hope you are too.