PAUL Lee, Oxford City's director of football, is the club's new first team boss.

Lee, 45, retains his director title, but will now have responsibility for all playing matters - including first-team selection - following player-manager Kevin Brock's sacking last week.

He is set to appoint an assistant and possibly a coach in the next few days following player-coach Peter Rhoades-Brown's decision to turn down the position of first-team coach.

Rosie, 36, Oxford United's football community officer, is also hanging up his boots with the Court Place Farm club, who were relegated to Ryman League Division 1 at the end of last season.

Lee said: "I would obviously have liked to have taken over at a better time, although I am convinced it is the best job in non-League football locally.

"The budget has been cut, but it is still higher than I have been used to in the past. I have spoken to all the players and I am confident I will keep the ones I want to keep.

"I feel that with with the present players and the influx of one or two, we will be a force in Division 1 next season."

Lee, who in his earlier management career took Abingdon Town up through the Hellenic and Spartan Leagues into the Isthmian League, added that he respected Rhoades-Brown's decision not to continue at the club.

Chairman Mick Woodley said the club were very pleased that Lee had agreed to take over at the helm. He said: "We cannot afford to bring in people from outside of the area and felt it essential to appoint someone with a lot of experience of non-League and local football. Paul Lee meets that criteria as well as anyone.

"With a much lower wage bill than last season we shall not be expecting miracles."

Rhoades-Brown said: "I have decided to hang my boots up, playing and coaching wise.

"I have been doing it for eight years and it has been non-stop with Oxford United and non-League and I only get Friday nights spare to do what I want to do."

He added that his friendship with Brock had no bearing on his decision not to take the job.

"It has nothing to do with the Brocky situation and nothing to do with the club," he said.

"Me and Kevin have done a great job to get the team to what it was at the end of the season .

"Whoever takes over, hopefully the players will continue to play for them and get promotion."

Rosie added: "I bought a bungalow four years ago and I have done nothing to it.

"I need to dedicate more time to my home life and I said to Mick that if I got itchy feet, then the first club I'd ring would be Oxford City because they are the best non-League club locally."

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