Darren Freeman has joined George Parris as joint manager of Whitehawk.

The former Albion forward will work alongside Parris as the Hawks plot a serious assault on the County League title.

It will be 35-year-old Freeman’s first foray into management, although he has worked at Whitehawk previously as a coach.

Vice-chairman Peter McDonnell believes Hawks now have an excellent team at the held.

He said: “Where we want to go we need to get experienced people on board and they will do very well together.

“They will work as joint managers. Darren won’t be George’s assistant.

“Darren is a good bloke with a good pedigree. He is very good on the physical side and remains very fit himself. George is a very good coach and a bit more technical. Together they will make a great team.”

Freeman started his career in non-league football with the likes of Lewes, Horsham and Worthing before being snapped up by Gillingham.

He had spells at Fulham and Brentford before joining Albion in 1999.

He will always be remembered for two feats with the Seagulls – scoring a hat-trick in Albion’s first ever competitive match at Withdean Stadium, when they beat Mansfield 6-0, and scoring the first goal of the new millennium when he netted in an early kick-off against Exeter on January 3, 2000.