Following a lively question and answer session on Monday evening (June 4) Winchester City FC have appointed Andy Leader, pictured, as manager for the forthcoming season.

Andy impressed Chairman Derek Caws and Secretary John Moody at his initial interview. John said that he was pleasantly surprised with the high calibre of applicants for the job but Andy was the only one who had a realistic appreciation of the difficulties of running a club in the Southern League and was the only one who showed the enthusiasm to get the job done.

Andy brings a professional footballing career at Crystal Palace and Reading as well as foreign experience of having played in Hong Kong and Finland to the Denplan Stadium. He also had a successful non-league career at such clubs as Wokingham Town, Windsor and Eton, Newbury Town and Salisbury City.

Winchester City were impressed with his coaching and managerial career to date with several clubs ranged over the National League system from county to semi-professional level and feel that the time is right for him to step up to the number one role in the club.

Andy can be contacted on 01425 617913 (mobile 07980 729916) by any players considering joining City.

As well as the announcement of the appointment of a manager Winchester City revealed that the club is currently in discussion with the city's girls' and women's teams and youth clubs with a view to creating a community club and obtaining FA Charter status.

Chairman Derek Caws also had some more good news for the club at Monday night's committee meeting. The much debated Cow Shed' stand behind the Cathedral end goal will now be replaced by a modern stand entirely sponsored by a supporter. He also confirmed that the club's new website was ready to go live' and this too had been sponsored as was the new p.a. system now being installed.

The meeting also discussed the fine detail of the summer international tournament at the club when Winchester's twin citys in France and Germany will be sending clubs to compete over the weekend of July 20-22.