KEVIN Forrest is the new manager of Wellington AFC’s Under 18 side, who play in the Western Counties Floodlit Youth League.

He takes over from Mike Hawes who endured a nightmare season of 20 postponements last winter, with a total of only five games played.

Forrest, 46, a former policeman who is now a fraud officer on the railways, will be assisted by Ed Chivers, who ran Wellington Under 16s last season.

Hawes stepped down because he found it difficult running a side when he was based in Chard and felt the side needed a manager closer to home.

“I spent most of last season arranging games and then having to tell players the match was off through one reason or another,” said Hawes, who is a former first team manager.

Forrest has experience in running a youth team, having been manager of Wellington Under 13s, who play in Taunton Youth League.

Like all football no date has been set yet for when the game will start again because of the lockdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

It means uncertainty for all of the Wellington club’s 30-plus teams which range from age six upwards.