Hastings United chairman Dave Walters has sprung a surprise by handing the managerial reigns to caretaker duo Pat Brown and Nigel Kane.

The pair have been in the dugout since the sacking of big-name appointment Neville Southall at the end of November.

Brown and Kane, senior players at the club, had the caretaker role thrust upon them after Southall's backroom team of Vince Moorton and Terry White quit in the wake of his dismissal and Walters has been impressed by the way they have taken to the task.

Walters said: "I had two major targets, Francis Vines, and the other who will remain forever nameless.

"As with Vines, we came very close to getting the other person but the timing was not quite right for him.

"But I have been very impressed with the way Pat and Nigel have conducted themselves and the way they work with the players.

"We have had quite a few people get in touch but we need stability as we are still in with a chance of promotion.

"A new manager would need time to settle in but I have seen these two doing the job and I have 100 per cent confidence in their ability.

"They are new to management but have a lot of football experience between them."