Witham Town manager Garry Kimble hopes Priti Patel can help “push the club to the next level” both on and off the pitch.

The town’s MP was unveiled as the club’s new chairman-elect this week and Kimble feels it will be an exciting appointment.

The post of chairman has been vacant since the sad death of Tony Last in July, but Patel agreed to take it on after a meeting with the manager last week and her position is due to be ratified at a Special Members’ Meeting at the Village Glass Stadium on October 27.

Kimble said: “It’s big news for us.

“We had a meeting with Priti on Friday which was supposed to only be half an hour and turned into a two-hour meeting as she was so interested in what we are trying to do here.

“I explained about Tony’s death in the summer and asked her if she would consider coming on board as chairman and she said yes.

“We wanted to get her on board to help promote us and it’s great to have her as a figurehead for Witham Town Football Club."

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