CHIPSTEAD chairman Mick Ford hopes to appoint a new manager by the "middle of the week" after Steve Baker left to join Harrow Borough.
Baker took over as manager at the High Road club in November 2013 and took Chipstead from relegation favourites to a comfortable mid-table side in his 14 months in charge.
However, it was announced yesterday [Sunday] that Baker had beaten 30 other applicants to become the new manager at Ryman League Premier Division side Harrow Borough.
And Chipstead chairman Ford wishes Baker all the best.
"It's disappointing for us to see Steve go but it's good for him because it's a step up," Ford said. "As a club, we would have liked him to stay but it's a higher league and a new challenge for him. It's not like he's left us for another club in the same division.
"When a manager leaves a club there is normally more to it, but there isn't with this. It's completely amicable and we wish Steve all the best."
And just as they moved quickly to appoint Baker just a day after sacking his predecessor Kevin Rayner, Ford is intending to have a new manager in place as soon as possible.
"Tony Stone will be taking the team for Tuesday's game at Faversham," the chairman said. "But I hope to have someone in place by the middle of the week.
"With the announcement coming on a Sunday, I don't think as many people saw it as they might have on a weekday but we have already had a few interesting people call us."
