[themaclad]

Dagenham and Redbridge have appointed Lewis Young as their permanent manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Young initially joined in April of 2023, as assistant manager to Ben Strevens and took over as interim manager in late December of 2024.

Also joining The Daggers' coaching staff as assistant manager is former Wolves coach Terry Connor.

"I'm delighted that Lewis has agreed to become our manager long-term," said Daggers sporting director James King.

"He has a clear vision of developing this squad and moving this club forward.

"After an intensive interview process with a high-level shortlist, Lewis was impressed in terms of his plans for long-term success on the pitch but also in terms of the structure put in place within the last three weeks."

[themaclad]

Manager Lewis Young has left Dagenham & Redbridge following the club's relegation from the National League.

The 35-year-old brother of former England international Ashley Young joined the east London side as first-team coach in March 2023.

He was placed in interim charge in December last year following the sacking of Ben Strevens and was given the job on a full-time basis a few weeks later, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The Daggers lost just one of their final nine matches of the season but, having been preceded by a 13-game winless sequence, that run was not enough to stop them dropping into National League South.

The club said, external it had "reached an agreement" with Young "to terminate his contract with immediate effect" and that it was "agreed by all parties that a new approach was needed to guide the club back to the National League".

Wealdstone beating Halifax Town 3-1 on the final day of the season meant the Stones stayed up, with Dagenham's 1-1 draw with Solihull Moors sending the Daggers down.

Ironically, the Moors are managed by Matt Taylor, who left Wealdstone to take over at the West Midlands club earlier in the season.