Cambridge United academy coach Rhys Shulver appointed new manager at Thurlow Nunn League club Haverhill Borough

Haverhill Borough have appointed former player Rhys Shulver as their new permanent manager.

The 25-year-old will take charge of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North club for the 2023/24 season, replacing outgoing boss Darryl Tate, who stepped down at the end of the current campaign.

Borough finished 17th and in the bottom three of the First Division North table following Saturday’s 9-1 final day defeat at champions Heacham, but look set to avoid relegation owing to their points-per-game record.

Shulver, who is a coach at Cambridge United’s academy, takes over a predominantly young squad in what will be his first senior management role.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Shulver said. “It’s a completely new challenge for myself.

“I’ve worked in the youth game for seven or eight years now, but this is probably my first real exposure at managing a more senior group of players.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but at the same time I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be quite important with the Borough set up to bring in some senior players as well. Ultimately, we want to develop young players, but we want to make the squad as competitive as possible so it’s about trying to get a balance.”

Shulver had a brief spell at the start of last season as a first-team coach with Liam Aves at Rovers, before taking on a player-coach role under interim boss Peter Betts until Marc Benterman was appointed as the club’s new permanent manager in October.

Stuart Cowe, who was previously on the management team with Rovers Under-18s and joined Borough as Tate’s assistant during the 2022/23 season, and ex-Rovers and Borough player Jemel Fox, will be assisting Shulver as part of the new management team.

“We’ve been quite fortunate really in getting the coaching team in place quite quickly,” Shulver said.

“We want to build for next year and bringing in Stuart and Jemel to the coaching team will help take Borough forward.

“Stuart will be in the dugout primarily with myself. He’s got some really good experience around local football. He’s come through the EJA system, but he knows loads of local players.

“Jemel is quite well known in town as a footballer. He was at Haverhill Rovers for a little while. He brings a level of experience on the pitch, so he will coach as well as also supporting the players on the pitch.”