BANBURY United have appointed former Chelsea and Northern Ireland striker Kevin Wilson as their new manager.

The 62-year-old was born in Banbury, and replaces Mark Jones, who the Puritans parted ways with last week.

Wilson joined the Puritans as a 17-year-old, scoring 13 goals in 45 appearances, before moving to Derby County for a club record fee of £25,000.

He then played for Ipswich Town, Chelsea, Notts County, Walsall and Northampton Town, while he was capped 42 times by Northern Ireland, netting six goals.

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Wilson started out in management with Northampton, where he won promotion to Division Two in the 1999/2000 campaign.

He has also managed the likes of Bedford Town, Aylesbury United, Kettering Town and Ilkeston Town.

Wilson told the Puritans club website: “I’m delighted to come back to my roots at Banbury United and manage the club at this point in its history. The time is right. I love this club.

“I have been asked to come in, with the short-term goal of ensuring that Banbury United stays in the Vanarama National League North.

“The club is entering a very exciting phase, with an impending ground move that requires significant funds to be raised – we simply must stay in this league.

“From what we saw on Saturday, we have the talent on board to achieve this. I’ll have a different management style for sure, but I do not plan to make any rush decisions with the squad.

“Longer term, I’m keen that Banbury United improves the pathway to professional football for local youngsters.

“Banbury served me well as a teenager and I would like to give something back to the promising talent of the town.”

Puritans chairman Ronnie Johnson added: “I think I speak on behalf of Banbury past and present by expressing our pleasure at the appointment of Kevin Wilson as manager of Banbury United Football Club.

“Kevin’s homecoming is something of a fairy tale story for one of the club’s greatest ever players, and we see in him the right experience and character to work with our squad, ensuring we remain playing football at this level and putting in the groundwork for a competitive 2024/25 season.”

Wilson met the Puritans players and coaching staff ahead of last night’s 2-1 win at home to Darlington.

Manny Maja and Charlie Waller handed the hosts a 2-0 lead with half an hour on the clock, before Mitchell Curry pulled a goal back for the visitors with 18 minutes to go.

The three points saw the Puritans climb to 16th in National League North, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Wilson will take charge of his first match at promotion hopefuls Chester on Saturday.