Midfielder is back as new boss

Jepson, who made 13 appearances for the Butlin Road club in 2014 before switching to Kettering and winning the EVO-STIK Southern League's Central Division title, was unveiled on Wednesday as the successor to Dale Belford.

Before leaving in April, Belford guided the Valley to a ninth placed finish in EVO-STIK NPL First Division South and his 34-year-old successor has told the club's fans he is looking forward to making a success of his first managerial post in a statement on the club's website.

Jepson, pictured alongside club director Neil Melvin, has been tasked with returning the club to Step 3 of the Non-League pyramid and is looking forward to the challenge.

He said: “I would like to thank the board for giving me this opportunity. I wasn’t necessarily looking to get into management at this stage and would have looked to play on for another year or two but a chance like this may not come along again for a while, so it was one I couldn’t turn down.

“I know the club reasonably well already, and it’s got a great facility and fan base, and even though my time here as a player was reasonably short, I have always kept an eye on how they’re getting on and who has featured for them.”

Jepson, who also turned out for AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Southwell, Stamford and Rainworth, has appointed Justin Skeete as his fitness coach, Donal Flynn as a club scout and expects to name his assistant manager within days.

Town are also advertising for a physio and video analyst and the new Valley boss added: “It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks putting the management staff together, as well as speaking to current and prospective players and confirming the pre-season fixture schedule, but I’m really looking forward to getting into it.

“I believe that I’m still fit and capable enough to play, so I will register, and then use myself as and when I think I am needed. Hopefully, with the calibre of player that I’m looking to bring in this will be limited and I can focus on the important job in hand of getting this club back up to the level that they belong in.”

Welcoming Jepson to the club in a statement confirming his appointment, Melvin said: “James represented the type of progressive, committed candidate that we were seeking to fill the role for the long term and we believe he shares our philosophy on how the game should be played.

“He has good contacts and relationships within the game at our level and geography, and hopefully this should help in identifying and attracting the right type of players to the club.”

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