HARTLEY WINTNEY have acted quickly to replace manager Mick Woollen after his shock resignation this week.

Last season's reserve boss Geoff Holman has taken up the challenge with the Combined Counties League club.

It ended Woollen's two-year spell at Hartley Wintney. Last season he guided them to their best league position for 19 years.

However, Woollen felt that was as far as he could take the club at the moment and decided to step down.

He was quickly snapped up by Hartley Wintney's league rivals and runners-up last season Ash.

Woollen (pictured) said: "I have left Hartley with no hard feelings and would like to thank everybody at the club for an excellent season just gone."

He added: "However, the club are continuing to improve their facilities and with the money needed for that, I feel the football will suffer.

"I can understand why they are doing it but it would have made life difficult for me to attract players."

Hartley Wintney opened a brand-new changing room facility last season and the previous year the club installed their first floodlights.

New boss Holman wasted no time in recruiting Tony Goss from Wokingham Town for physio duties and promoted Mick Clarke to reserve team manager.

A club spokesman said: "We believe he is the right man to take the club forward and to mount a challenge for local honours. We would also like to thank Mike for all his efforts over the past two seasons."