GUY WHITTINGHAM has been named as new boss of Wessex League outfit AFC Newbury.

The former Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday striker was unveiled yesterday at Newbury's Faraday Road home, ending one of the league's longest-running managerial mysteries.

It was way back at the beginning of December that Andy Lyne quit the job, since when John Robson - now AFC Totton boss - and former Newport County manager Tim Harris have been strongly linked with the post.

But the Berkshire club had been waiting on Whittingham to see out his playing contract with Newport IoW, where he was previously team manager and football in the community officer.

Whiteley-based Whittingham, 38, will double up the part-time Newbury job with his role as south-west of England regional coach for the Professional Footballers' Association. His impressive list of coaching badges includes a UEFA A Licence and a Coach Educator's Certificate.

The Fratton Park goal legend said: "This is a nice job to get my teeth into. Newbury seem very organised and ambitious off the pitch and it's up to me to match that on the park."

There had been rumours that Whittingham would take his former Newport assistant Dave Taviner to Newbury, but he said: "Dave's an avid Pompey fan and he's not going to miss them playing in the Premiership!"