Steve King has no experience of management at senior non-League level. But at least one man thinks he has the best chance of bringing some silverware home.

Billy Smith may have departed the Sussex non-League scene in January when he left Crawley for the second time in his managerial career.

But he is well qualified to assess the chances of our senior clubs ahead of the big kick-off in the Dr Martens and Ryman leagues.

He has been involved in non-League management for over 30 years and tomorrow begins his second spell in charge of Ryman Premier outfit Carshalton.

Alongside him in the dugout will be new assistant George Wakeling who left Hastings United at the end of last season following their relegation from the Dr Martens Premier.

"A lot of people in Sussex won't know much about Steve King but I've known him for years," said Smith.

"I recommended him to Lewes along with Terry Brown, the Aldershot manager, and one thing is for sure, he won't struggle to get players.

"They had a good nucleus already and what Steve has brought in can only improve them and I can see them going up."

Smith had been lined up to assist Bognor boss Jack Pearce, but the lure of a return to Colston Avenue proved too strong.

"I've always had a soft spot for the club," admitted Smith. "Ever since my wife and I spent six weeks one summer painting the stand which runs down one side of the pitch on our own."

It will be an emotional afternoon when Smith locks horns with his old pal later in the year and he fully expects Pearce's Bognor, who won promotion from division one South last season, to survive back in the top flight.

"The bookies have them to finish a lot higher up than us and they are probably right," said Smith. "The premier division encourages teams to play good football and Jack's sides have always done that.

"He may not have that many new faces yet, but Jack's a cagey old so and so and he will always get a player or two in who he knows can perform, they will do okay."

Rocks pipped Lewes to promotion on the final day of the season but Smith believes the Rooks can go one better under a player he first came across in Carshalton's youth team.

It's all change at Worthing where Alan Pook has replaced Barry Lloyd and brought in several new faces.

"Alan has always been associated with success and he will want to get them out of the division as quickly as possible," said Smith.

"It depends on how soon they gel together and I read that he's not too happy with their fitness levels. But Alan will sort them out, they should do quite well."

Horsham faded out of the promotion race and Smith feels that John Maggs, his former chairman at Crawley, may find it hard to mastermind another tilt at the title this year.

He added: "Tommy Warrilow has gone there as coach and both he and Ali Rennie, John's assistant, will be able to get players. But losing someone like Rob Collins, who is a natural goalscorer, is a big blow and I don't think they will do quite as well this year."