TERRY BROWN has returned to Non-League management as the new first-team boss of Ryman Premier club Margate.
Brown, who has been out of work since leaving AFC Wimbledon in September 2012, is one of the most successful Non-League managers of the past two decades.
He moved into management with Hayes in 1993 and spent nine years there, leading them from near the relegation zone in the Ryman League Premier Division to third in the Conference National.
However, financial constraints saw the club struggle in the latter stages of his tenure and when the chance to apply for the Aldershot Town job arose in 2002 he seized it with both hands.
Brown’s Shots side won the Hampshire Senior Cup that year and in 2002/03 achieved promotion to the Conference National after winning their league by 13 points.
They almost made it back-to-back promotions but eventually lost to Shrewsbury Town in the final of the play-offs.
The Shots lost in the play-offs to Carlisle United in 2004/05 and endured a disappointing 2005/06 campaign, finishing 13th.
Brown quit his position with the Hampshire outfit in March 2007 to look after his wife Susan, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
But it wasn’t long before he was back in football, as AFC Wimbledon came calling for him later that year.
Brown’s Dons won promotion from the Ryman Premier Division at the first time of asking (via the play-offs) and then secured the Conference South title in 2008/09 .
An eighth-placed finish in 2009/10 saw their progress halted temporarily but the Dons weren’t to be denied their place in the Football League and went up after beating Luton on penalties in the play-off final at the City of Manchester Stadium in 2011.
Brown kept the club in League Two in 2011/12 but a very poor start to last season saw him sacked.
He has been linked with a number of high-profile vacancies since then and has now finally sealed a return to management.
Brown takes over at Hartsdown Park with the Gate 13th in their division. His first game in charge couldn’t be any trickier, with the club facing leaders AFC Hornchurch away on Saturday afternoon.
