New boss Steve Brown has not ruled out staying with Lewes beyond the summer.

The former Charlton defender has been placed in interim charge until the end of the season.

He admits his sole focus for now is making sure the Rooks stay in Ryman premier.

But Brown would be open to further talks with the board in the summer should they want him to turn the appointment into a longer-term arrangement.

Brown joined Lewes on Wednesday with a wealth of experience in football, as a player and in coaching with Charlton’s youth team, as reserve team boss at West Ham and under-18s manager with Albion.

The Brighton-born 42-year-old has been out of the game since leaving as manager of Conference south side Ebbsfleet in November but found the opportunity to help out his local club too good to turn down.

He has the added bonus of a Sussex Senior Cup final at the Amex in May to look forward to but his primary goal is to secure enough points to stave off any relegation fears, starting with a visit of Kingstonian tomorrow.

Brown told The Argus: “I was obviously out of work since being let go by Ebbsfleet. I have had a couple of offers that haven’t suited. I was aware of the Lewes job but didn’t make any moves for it.

“Lewes contacted me and when it was put to me about being an interim job until the end of the season that suited both parties.

“I’m keen to go in and get as many points on the board for the club to secure Ryman premier status and then we will see what happens in the summer.

“The board will do what is best for Lewes first come the summer when they know exactly where the football club is at.

“I wouldn’t rule out anything. I have to be very respectful of what the board want. They are running the football club. They want an interim manager until the end of the season to get as many points on the board and keep Lewes in the league.

“That is all everybody is focusing on right now but I don’t think anybody would rule out a relationship beyond that. Absolutely not.”

Brown will be assisted by Dave Jupp, while academy coach Steve Eke will remain part of the new management set-up.

Martin Hinshelwood – who was running the team with Eke on a caretaker basis following the departure of Garry Wilson – will revert to his coaching role with the academy.

Lewes are currently 19th in Ryman premier, six points clear of the relegation zone with 11 games to play.

Goalkeeper Brandon Hall has returned to Ebbsfleet at the end of his one-month loan stint but his departure is compensated by the return to fitness of regular No.1 Rikki Banks.

Brown will give the existing squad a chance to show what they can do.

He said: “I don’t want to say now I’m going to do this and that but if there are moments I feel we need to strengthen then I will talk to the board and see if we can do something.

“I’m not one that comes in and throws a bomb underneath the place if there is no need to.”

Brown knows he is joining a good club.

He added: “Lewes hit a peak in the Conference premier not so long back and has dropped down a little bit but it is now being run in a very sensible way.

“The board are not willing to put finances on offer that aren’t there and that is absolutely correct. I think non-league in general is in a bit of a state financially. There are a lot of football clubs struggling.

“The board have some fantastic plans for the football club, we have the 3G going in over the back, there are plans to redevelop the stadium. They will do it at the right time, with the right finances. They have a playing budget that is very sensible and within limits.

“It is a well-run club, well-estalbished, with very sound footings to build from.”