FORMER Ebbsfleet United and Lewes boss Steve Brown hopes he can help Margate continue the “incredible” job done by manager Nikki Bull.
Brown has been out of the game since stepping down as manager of then-Ryman Premier club Lewes last November.
His spell with the Rooks followed his time in charge of big spending Ebbsfleet, where he spent just under 18 months.
He took the club to the National League South play-off final in 2013-14 but the Fleet were beaten by Kent rivals Dover Athletic.
Brown now returns to the same division, albeit as an assistant, with Margate who are currently sitting one point and one place above the relegation zone.
The Gate have seen a number of players leave in recent weeks and according to boss Bull, eight of the team that drew with East Thurrock in the FA Trophy on Saturday weren’t being paid.
And his new right-hand man, Brown, was eager to point out the good work he has done at Hartsdown Park.
“I have been on both sides of the fence but I am looking forward to returning to the coaching side of things and helping this club moving forward,” he told Margate’s website.
“In the meantime I have no desire to return to management and I just want to focus on assisting Nikki and Paul (Barnes, coach) moving forward.
“The opportunity to come here fits perfectly with my current commitments outside of football. Having met both Alistair (Bayliss, co-chairman) and Nikki several times it was something that I wanted to be part of.
“The work Nikki has done here already is nothing short of incredible and I am looking forward to assisting him in any way that I can.”
Boss Bull added: “I am pleased that Steve has agreed to join us until the end of the season. We are all aware that this is going to be a long winter so for me to have another pair of hands and eyes in the dugout alongside me and Paul Barnes is important.”
