Ian Culverhouse has signed a new contract with King's Lynn Town.

Eastern Daily Press: King's Lynn Town boss Ian Culverhouse Picture: Ian BurtKing's Lynn Town boss Ian Culverhouse Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Copyrighted)

The Linnets boss has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal, taking him up to the end of the 2020-21 season - 48 hours before one of the club's biggest home game in years.

Culverhouse is in his second spell in charge at The Walks having taken over as manager, following the departure of Gary Setchell, in February 2017.

The former Norwich City player and assistant manager led Lynn to second place in the Southern League Premier Division in 2018 and an unsuccessful play-off final appearance, before a controversial exit from The Walks. He took over at Grantham but left for personal reasons and in a shock move, returned to Lynn in November 2018. He led the Linnets through a successful play-off final and super final at Warrington to a place in the National League North.

Lynn - unbeaten at home in the league since Culverhouse's return - have upset the odds and currently sit top of the table, a point ahead of York City who visit The Walks on Saturday.

The 55-year-old's CV includes 369 appearances for Norwich and a coaching career alongside Paul Lambert at Colchester, Norwich and Aston Villa. He was appointed assistant manager at Dagenham & Redbridge in January 2016.

"The club has moved on leaps and bounds since the first day I walked in and it is a project that I am glad to be involved with," he said. "The club is growing on and off the pitch and the infrastructure behind the scenes is coming on really, really well and with what we are producing on the pitch as well, the decision was a no-brainer."

Lynn's success has been matched with bigger crowds - attendances are up 70pc on last season with average gates of around 1,200 - a figure likely to be more than doubled tomorrow.

"The crowds this year have come in their thousands and are getting behind this football club and it can still grow," said Culverhouse. "They make a lot of noise when they come and we have made this place quite a fortress in the time we have been here and we will strive to do so in the future, but it would be nothing without the fans.

"The fans have got to get right behind it and push it as well - we don't know where the journey will take us, but it will be an enjoyable ride."