Chairman Len Smith has tipped Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood to lead Eastbourne Borough into the Football League.

One of the most successful managerial duos in non-league football celebrate their testimonial on Friday night when Borough take on Wycombe Wanderers at Priory Lane.

Since teaming up in 1999 Wilson and Greenwood have guided Borough from the Sussex County League to the Blue Square premier.

Smith has described the pair as the perfect partnership and believes their success story has at least another chapter remaining to be written.

He said: “I can see Garry and Nick going on for quite a few years yet and I think they are capable of taking us to the next stage in that time.

“Our immediate target is to establish the club in the Conference but I don't see any reason why they can’t take us into the League in the future.

“I can’t think of a better managerial pair. Although Garry is the manager they are very much a partnership.

“They compliment each other perfectly and the way they work together is a big reason for our success.

“They are very different characters and that is probably why they get on so well. In all the time they have worked together I don’t remember them falling out once.

“Garry is a great motivator while Nick is very good at organising things. Nick does most of the coaching now and Garry gets on with the managerial side so it works very well.

“Being at one club for such a long time there is the danger you can lose motivation but I think Garry and Nick still have a desire to achieve more.”

Greenwood was already at Priory Lane and filling in as caretaker manager when Wilson was appointed boss in February 1999.

In their first full season together they won the County League title and went on to earn three more promotions to reach non-league’s top flight.

Only Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been manager of a club in the top five divisions longer than Wilson while there can’t be many assistant managers who have served as long as Greenwood.

Smith hopes Borough supporters will turn out in their numbers tonight to pay tribute to their contributions.

He said: “Hopefully people will come along to show their appreciation of what Garry and Nick have achieved. It is amazing what they have done for this club in a relatively short space of time and they deserve to get a big crowd.

“On top of that it is the first time most people will have the chance to see some of our new players this season and we have quality opposition in Wycombe Wanderers.

“They have promised to bring a strong side and have signed some new players during the summer so it should be a great night.”