COUNTY and local councillor Andy Govier is the new chairman of Wellington AFC.

He was elected at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday night and takes over from Mike Hall who stepped down in August after 14 years in the role.

A club spokesperson said: “This is great news for Wellington AFC. Virtually everyone in the town knows Andy for his work as a councillor and across many other areas of our community.

“He also has a long association with the club as a past player – like his dad, George, and brother, Jon – then as a supporter and, this season, assisting with the first team.

“We are delighted he has agreed to take the helm and believe he is the ideal person to take the club forward.”

Andy said: “It is a tremendous honour to take on the role of chairman. My commitment to Wellington is something that has been at the heart of my life for many years, having served the community for over 30 years as a local councillor.

“I have always believed in the importance of bringing people together, and football is one of the strongest ways we can do that.

“The club has had a difficult time over the last couple of months, but I have really been impressed with how people have come together to ensure the various teams have continued to fulfil their fixtures.

“I am delighted that we now have a new first team management structure with Joe Conway, John Norman, Josh Baker and Georgia Purdy, who are working hard to get the first team to be competitive in the Western League.

“Our Reserves continue to thrive under Mark Owen’s leadership, and the A team are starting to get some results with Connor Porter at the helm.

“The Wildcats Ladies continues to strengthen in a really tough league and their coaches and players are working hard to compete at this level.

“The ground has been transformed over the past year or so, and we have a youth and ability counts set-up that is the envy of clubs across the country.

“I am determined to give every team the support and resources they need to thrive.

“Going forward, I want to see far more of our youth players progressing to play for the senior teams and for the club to start to win trophies again.

“The club plays a vital role in our town, and I am proud to help lead it into its next chapter.

“I will be backed by a very strong committee, and I hope that one or two others may join us in the next few weeks.

“From our players and volunteers to our supporters and sponsors, the club is built on community spirit.

“As chairman, I want to build on the strong foundations already in place and ensure the club continues to thrive, both on and off the pitch, while remaining at the heart of Wellington life.

“I would also like to pay tribute to outgoing chairman Mike Hall and his wife Gill for their many years of dedication and service to Wellington AFC.”