Tuppenney returns as Bexhill boss

Paul Tuppenney has made a dramatic return as manager of Bexhill United Football Club.

The 40-year-old was handed the reins for a second time on Sunday evening, little more than two years after his first stint in charge ended in acrimonious fashion.

Tuppenney’s previous spell at The Polegrove began with one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history as he led Bexhill to promotion from Division Three of the Sussex County League, as well as winning the Division Three Challenge Cup and Sussex Intermediate Cup back in 2007-08.

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But the following campaign didn’t go nearly as well with Bexhill going straight back down to intermediate level and Tuppenney departing in the closing weeks following a row at Sidlesham.

New Bexhill chairman Robin Powell, who confirmed the appointment of Tuppenney was a committee decision but not a unanimous one, said: “He reckons he’s a changed man and hopefully he will be.”

Since he was last at Bexhill, Tuppenney, for many years a Southern League player with Hastings Town (now United) and Ashford Town, has enjoyed two good seasons as a player and subsequently player/coach at Rye United.

Powell insists that Tuppenney will not have the luxury of a playing budget as he considers paying players at this level “unsustainable”.

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Tuppenney added: “At the moment I’m hoping all the players stay. I’ve not heard one person saying they’re leaving, but I’ve not been able to speak to them properly. I want the players to stay and we’ll have a go.”

The full article will appear in tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer.

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