JASON Hill is the new chairman of Minehead Football Club following his election at the recent annual meeting.

Jason takes over from Mark Vickers who was in his second spell as chairman while former player Matt Cracknell has been named as vice-chairman. Matt brings a wealth of experience from playing almost 300 games for Minehead.

Michael Neal will be looking after the football development within the club and will be working closely with Steve Jackson, the club’s senior football director.

Jason has confirmed that Craig Carr, who completed his first full season in charge of the first team, will be continuing as manager.

Looking ahead Jason said: “Our aim is for the first team to return to the Premier Division of the Uhlsport Somerset County League and, ultimately, set plans in place, to return to the Jewson Western League. The football leadership team, of course, will be working very closely with the wider management committee who are fully focused on building a strong footballing future for our club.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming back all our returning players and meeting new faces for all three of our senior teams for the coming season where we want to hit the ground running.”

Minehead have arranged a number of pre-season warm-up games, many of them at home. They begin with a match away to Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday, July 10, and the following Saturday the club will be staging a home game against a Legends XI managed by Steve Perkins.

Provisional dates of friendlies: July 8 away v Bishops Lydeard (7.30p.m.); 12 home v Legends XI (3p.m.); 16 home v Middlezoy Rovers (7.45p.m.); 19 home v AFC Llanedeyrn (3.30p.m.); 23 home v Staplegrove (7.45); 26 home v Uphill Castle (1p.m.); 30 Bishops Lydeard (7.45p.m.); Aug 2 home v Wellington (3p.m.).