Paddy Davitt King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins last night promised new manager Carl Heggs will be a 'breath of fresh air' at The Walks.The 38-year-old Redditch assistant boss was the unanimous choice to succeed Keith Webb at the Unibond Premier Division club.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins last night promised new manager Carl Heggs will be a 'breath of fresh air' at The Walks.

The 38-year-old Redditch assistant boss was the unanimous choice to succeed Keith Webb at the Unibond Premier Division club.

Ex-Lynn skipper Mark Warren along with experienced current players Mark Peters and Andy Johnson were all short-listed but Heggs was appointed just hours after impressing the Linnets' hierarchy at his initial interview.

Heggs was appointed Conference North Redditch's assistant boss in 2007 having previously helped Ilkeston win promotion to the Unibond Premier in 2005 as a player.

The ex-striker also played in the Conference set-up for Forest Green, Tamworth and Hinckley following a ten year Football League career where he made more than 200 appearances for West Brom, Swansea and Northampton.

Bobbins' is confident Lynn's rookie manager can plot an instant Conference return after the club's recent demotion over their failure to meet a ground grading deadline.

“I can honestly say he is one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever come across,” said Bobbins. “His interview was the first time we'd actually met face to face but I can assure you the feeling was unanimous amongst the rest of the board. Everything about him ticks the boxes - his approach to the game, the type of team that he envisages putting together, his style of play. I really believe he will be like a breath of fresh air around this place.

“With the managerial set-up they have had at Redditch he has effectively been the manager of that club in the last season or so. Along with his playing career he has got a massive amount of experience both in non league and league football. He played in the Unibond and Conference North and now he's managed in the Conference North so it's fair to say he has built up a colossal database of players from that part of the country.”

Heggs will officially be unveiled on Friday but the new Linnets' chief reign is already up and running.

“He is looking to sign three players right away,” said Bobbins. “Carl wants a young team with perhaps two, three or four experienced players and he is actively attempting to sign a 30 goal a season centre forward from the Conference North. In terms of our existing playing squad he's got a free hand. We've set out a budget within which he must work but it is his to use as he sees fit. Clearly that is how it should be as ultimately he knows he will be judged and results.

“We hope it will be a competitive budget in the Unibond Premier - it will have to be. We've done our sums and we know what we can pay the players and the management. Carl has indicated to us he is happy to work within that financial framework.”