BRENDON King and Matt Groves have been unveiled as the new management team at Weymouth FC.

King makes the step up to manager, following half a season as Martyn Rogers’ number two, while ex-Dorchester Town striker Groves has been drafted in as player-coach, with both men receiving one-year contracts.

Speaking to Echosport, King said: “It is a massive jump for me in the first instance but it is not something I am scared of. I have never been afraid of hard work and I am looking forward to the challenge.

“It is also something that is in my blood. I have played for the club and managed the reserve team, and now I am making the step up from assistant-manager to first-team boss.

“I also used to watch the team as a kid with my dad down the Rec, and my grandfather and his brother used to play for the club as well so I am determined to bring stability here and turn things around.”

When asked why he has chosen Groves to be his right-hand man, King added: “Alex Browne was my first choice but he didn’t fancy it in the end so I turned to Matt who has a wealth of experience as a player and has been around non-League football for a long time.

“We both have the same ideas for the club and basically the hard work starts now. We have got a list of targets we are after and we’ll be speaking to players immediately, including Warren Byerley and a lot of the squad from last season.”

The club’s board of directors have also released the following statement. It reads: “We had some good candidates that all had a lot to offer but we have listened to the fans’ wishes for the club to live within its means and have decided to go down the local route and hopefully the new management team can attract some decent players.

“Brendon has expressed to the board that he is going to need some help in that area and of course we will assist him but that happens at most football clubs and is nothing new. Ultimately though, he will have the final say.

“Both Brendon and Matt have been given contracts for the season but within them is a caveat where if the club finishes in the top 10 they will automatically get a second year.”

Associate director Mark Coleman was the driving force behind King’s appointment and he will chair a fans’ forum at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Thursday night, alongside the new coaching duo, from 7.30pm.

* UPDATE: The fans' forum has now been rearranged for tomorrow night (Wednesday, June 8) at 7.30pm.