STEVE Butterworth has set his sights on bringing stability to Great Wakering Rovers after being appointed as the club’s player-manager on a permanent basis.

Butterworth was installed as interim player-manager after the Isthmian North side parted company with Garry Kimble in January.

Having originally planned talks with chairman Dave Patient at the end of the campaign, the 33-year-old has been rewarded for guiding Wakering to safety.

“It’s great to have been appointed as the club’s player-manager,” said Butterworth.

“We have done well in the short space of time since I took over and we have had a lot of good comments from opposition managers over the last six weeks.

“Our results in the last eight games have been some of the best the club has enjoyed in recent times and it’s great to have the backing to continue as manager.

“I don’t know the precise statistics but I’m sure we would be in the top half of the table if the season had have started when I took over.

“Simon Glover will remain as my player-assistant manager and Martin Tuohy will join us on the backroom staff next season.

“As a club, we have regularly been in a relegation dogfight in this division and I want to stop that happening.

“Keeping the players will be the hardest thing because I’m sure some clubs are sniffing around after our recent run of form, but if we can keep them and add two or three players to the squad then I think we will be a good side next season.”

Patient insists it was a no-brainer to appoint Butterworth on a permanent basis after staving off an immediate return to the Essex Senior League.

“I am delighted to confirm that Steve will be our player-manager next season,” said the Wakering chairman.

“Simon Glover will remain as player-assistant manager and Martin Tuohy will be joining the backroom staff.

“All three of them are inexperienced when it comes to management, but they have bags of experience within the game.

“Steve has played at National League level and he has done a good job since he came in as interim player-manager.

“Steve and Martin know the club inside out having also played for Wakering earlier in their respective playing careers and I felt that was important.

“They know how the club works and I want us to become a stable club in this division.

“I don’t want us to be a yoyo club anymore.”