Hartley Wintney FC has announced Danny Ackland as the club's new first team manager.

A former first-year pro at Charlton Athletic following extended schoolboy forms, Ackland took up coaching over 20 years ago when unable to fully recover from a knee injury that ended a promising playing career.

The 42-year-old worked in the States for four years, where he developed a coaching programme for young players.

On his return to the UK, he joined Southampton FC as a youth coach, and after four years with Saints he took a similar coaching role within the academy at AFC Bournemouth.

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During his ten years with the Cherries, Danny mentored many of the players who graduated through the youth system to pro level.

Ackland holds the UEFA A Part 1 and UEFA B Licence.

He also coached at Chelsea and Ipswich Town. After steering Eastleigh's reserve team of mostly U18 players to an 18-month unbeaten run and the league title, he joined Wessex League BAT Sports as manager in 2005, later joining Alresford Town as manager.

Commenting on Danny's appointment, Hartley Wintney director of football, Anthony Millerick said: "It's been a very strange time at the football club, and huge credit must go to the players and the coaching staff of Neil Woodyer, Aym'e Melham, Chris Neate and Andy Hunt, who have all contributed to a largely positive start to the season. With recent events concluding, it was important we looked to the future and appointed someone who can bring stability to what has been a turbulent 15 months.

"We had two excellent candidates and are delighted Danny has accepted the role. I've been aware of Danny for some years. Seeing his young Alresford side beat an experienced Basingstoke side in the Basingstoke Senior Cup left me massively impressed. Since then, I've followed his progress and spoken intermittently regarding all things football over the last few years, and his wealth of knowledge is very apparent. Having worked so well with youngsters, and understanding what we are trying to achieve this season, I firmly believe Danny is the man to bring happier days back to the football club."

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Danny was asked what he felt about the opportunity to manage the North Hampshire club. "I'm delighted to get the opportunity to manage Hartley into the future and work towards building an exciting time with a bright young squad.

"The club has a unique feel, being such an integral part of the local community, and I've been very impressed with the job Anthony and his staff have been doing in the interim. I'm looking forward to getting started with the staff and players as soon as possible, where my main goal will be to continue the strides taken recently in league victories and credible cup performances against Folkestone and Cray, where the positives far out-weigh the negatives.

"We start with a big game on Saturday, where it's important we continue to build momentum in the league to challenge and finish as high up as we can."