Gorleston have announced that Richard Daniels has returned to the club as manager following Stewart Larter's exit for Wroxham.

Eastern Daily Press: Former Gorleston and Diss manager Richard Daniels, who is now refereeing and trying to qualify to referee at Thurlow Nunn League level.Pictured reffing Freethorpe Reserves v East Harling Reserves in Division Six of the Ang Comb.Photo: Steve AdamsFormer Gorleston and Diss manager Richard Daniels, who is now refereeing and trying to qualify to referee at Thurlow Nunn League level.Pictured reffing Freethorpe Reserves v East Harling Reserves in Division Six of the Ang Comb.Photo: Steve Adams

The Greens have moved swiftly to replace Larter and announced that Daniels, who has been refereeing locally since leaving Diss Town last October, will be assisted by former club captain Eddie Thompson.

Eastern Daily Press: Stewart Larter, the new boss of Wroxham. Picture: Bill SmithStewart Larter, the new boss of Wroxham. Picture: Bill Smith (Image: Archant © 2014)

Daniels previously took charge at Emerald Park in the summer of 2009 having previously guided Bungay into Division Two of the Anglian Combination and achieved two promotions with Halvergate.

He made Larter his joint manager in 2011 before becoming director of football in October 2012 but leaving to take over at Diss shortly after.

He resigned a year later with the Tangerines struggling at the wrong end of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, saying that he had lost his hunger for management

Gorleston chairman Alan Gordon said: 'With the departure of Stewart Larter to Wroxham it was felt that we should move for someone who knows the club inside out and has Gorleston Football Club at heart.

'We feel we have achieved that in the appointment of Richard & Eddie. The new management team buys into our philosophy of producing our own local talent and playing the highly talented youth players we have at the club but also realise we need a good mix of experience within the side.

'We hope to continue the good work and ethos of playing good football that we had under our previous manager, whilst working to a structured plan to bring the club forward and realise our own ambitions.

'Our new management team has tasted success at the club as both manager and player and we look forward to the future under their leadership.'

Under Daniels' previous tenure the Greens won the Eastern Counties First Division Knockout Cup and First Division title in 2011, then the Norfolk Senior Cup in 2012.

Central defender Thompson had 11 seasons as a player at Gorleston, making 327 appearances.

The duo will be assisted by another former Gorleston player, Aaron Huggins-Bowers, who retired at the end of last season because of a long-standing ankle problem.

Reserves and under-18s manager Glyn Hopkins will remain in his roles but will be involved in the new first-team management set-up.

Daniels takes over after a successful season under Larter's stewardship, finishing fourth in the Thurlow Nunn Premier and winning the Norfolk Senior Cup against higher-level Wroxham at Carrow Road.

The club were involved in the promotion chase but announced in April that they were withdrawing their application for promotion as the club wasn't ready to make the step up to Step Four of the non-league pyramid.

With Wroxham sacking Pawel Guziejko after finishing in the bottom three of Ryman North, Larter decided to take over at Trafford Park after the Yachtsmen were granted a relegation reprieve.

Gordon added: 'The new management team will begin their roles with immediate effect and I ask all at the club to get right behind them for the coming season.'

Related links

The manager who became a referee: Former Gorleston and Diss Town boss Richard Daniels calls for more players to qualify as referees

Manager Stewart Larter on why he left Gorleston to complete a Wroxham return