Former Cardiff City boss Steve Morison has been named the new manager of non-league side Hornchurch FC, just weeks after being strongly linked with a return to the Bluebirds.
Morison was believed to be considered by Vincent Tan for the Cardiff job just eight months after being sacked by the Bluebirds. Instead the club opted for the much bolder move of appointing former Fenerbahce man Erol Bulut, which has enthused the fan base again.
Bulut was unveiled to the media on Monday, where he outlined his ambitions for Cardiff over the coming season, and his appointment has sparked a genuine feeling of optimism in the capital.
Morison, meanwhile, is now set to get to work in the Isthmian Premier League, the seventh tier of English football, where he will taking on the likes of Billericay Town, Dulwich Hamlet, and Hashtag United.
Hornchurch finished second in the league last year, four points behind champions Bishop's Stortford, who subsequently won promotion to the National League North.
Going one better this season will undoubtedly be part of Morison's brief.
Commenting on the move, Chairman Alex Sharp said Morison's willingness to drop down the divisions to further cut his teeth as a head coach was one of the key factors in the decision to hire him as their next boss.
"From the first time I spoke with Steve I knew we had found our next manager," he said. "I was drawn in by the Millwall connection, but then so impressed by his experience, professionalism and how driven he is.
"I have loved listening to his plans of how he intends to take the club forward and I love the fact that he thinks nothing of dropping down to non-league to create opportunities going forward.
“We have a great squad at the club and the players are very excited to meet Steve and to see how he will help develop their careers."
Morison himself added: “I am thrilled and honoured to announce that I have taken on the role of First Team Manager of Hornchurch FC.
"As we embark on this new season, I want to assure you that I am committed to bringing success to Hornchurch FC. I will work tirelessly with our players, coaching staff and management to ensure that we perform at our best and achieve our goals.
“I am passionate about football and believe that together, we can build a strong and successful team. I am excited to work with the existing players and the wider Hornchurch FC community to create a culture of excellence on and off the pitch."
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