Kettering Announce New Manager

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central newcomers Kettering Town have announced the appointment of the experienced Andy Leese as their new manager.

The 60-year-old takes over from Lee Glover, who left the Poppies following their relegation from the Vanarama National League North at the end of last season.

Leese’s last club was Isthmian League Premier Division Enfield Town, who he departed at the end of April.

He took over at the QEII Stadium in the Spring of 2017 and steered the Town through an initial rebuild and the two Covid interrupted seasons before guiding the club in to the play-offs and their highest ever league finish in the 2021/22 campaign.

He also steered Town to Isthmian League Cup success in 2019, the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup in his first season and a record run to the Third round of the FA Trophy in 2021.

He guided Town to the play-offs in 2021/22, where they suffered a narrow semi-final defeat against Hornchurch, and they were in the top five again for much of this season until losing their way in the last month of the campaign - a winless April seeing them slip down to ninth and miss out by 5 points.

As a player, Leese turned out for the likes of Leyton Orient, Oxford United, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday, and prior to his time at Donkey Lane as a manager was successful in charge of Chesham United.