New Lowestoft Town boss Dale Brooks wants to 'stabilize the club' after being named the permanent successor to Ady Gallagher on Thursday night.

New Lowestoft Town boss Dale Brooks wants to 'stabilize the club' after being named the permanent successor to Ady Gallagher last night.

The former Southend United Under-21s boss was confirmed as the Trawlerboys new manager last night after Gallagher stepped down on Wednesday.

Several candidates had expressed an interest in the post but the Trawlerboys plumped for Brooks, who had been Gallagher's assistant at the Amber Dew Events Stadium for nearly two years.

'It's a situation I didn't think I'd find myself in but I'm up for it and I want to do a good job for the football club,' he told the club's official website. 'It's strange circumstances because Ady was the one that brought me to the football club but both Ady and myself have been in the game long enough and we understand the situation. I'm really pleased to be the manager of Lowestoft Town Football Club.'

Brooks wants to address the fact that attendances have dwindled this season but knows he will have to do it within the confines of a strict budget.

'It's got to be a collective effort,' he added. 'We've got to stabilize the club in terms of getting fans through the gates, it's so important to get supporters back in. We need to play a brand of football that makes supporters want to come and watch the team.'

Brooks' first match in charge will be at home to Metropolitan Police tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm) as the club look to climb the Bostik League Premier.

Alan Green replaced Gary Keyzor as the new Blues chairman in September and the new chief believes in Brooks he has the man to lead the club back into the National League following their relegation in 2016.

'He's been assistant manager now for a while and I've looked at his skills and he's very experienced,' said Green.

'Dale brings with him a lot of contacts which will be hugely beneficial. When I came on board, I did mention that I didn't make snap decisions and I've thought long and hard about where we go from here. I want to take the club in a new direction and get us back into the National League.

'I look at Dale and I have every confidence he will take us there.'