CHRIS Hudson is hoping that Wivenhoe Town and their players can be direct beneficiaries of the wealth of experience he has built up during his time in football.

The new Dragons boss took the first-team helm last week as he took over as manager following Mo Osman stepping down from the role and he will be looking for his first victory tonight.

They made an encouraging start to life under Hudson at Ely City on Saturday, but despite taking the lead with a Tyrone Scarlett goal, the trip ended in a 3-1 defeat.

Wivenhoe head to fellow premier division side Brantham Athletic in the third round of the Thurlow Nunn League Cup tonight, though, with both sides hoping to book a place in the quarter-finals.

One side already through to the last eight of the competition is Coggeshall Town, a team Hudson knows well after a spell as part of their coaching set-up.

He has also spent time coaching at Bostik League club Witham Town and is now looking to harness the experience he has built up there, along with his time playing with clubs such as Fulham, Braintree Town and Dover Athletic in England and in the German Bundesliga 2, to lead Wivenhoe to success.

Hudson said: "I’d like to thank Mo (Osman) and the club committee at Wivenhoe for the opportunity they have given me here; I’m very grateful for this chance to manage the club.

"I've been heavily influenced by others in my management style, by people I’ve worked with in the past.

"I have a great friend in (Coggeshall assistant manager) John Pollard, who is a fantastic coach.

"I look up to him, as I do to Graeme Smith at Coggeshall and Mark Nicholls at Witham.

"I’m very grateful for what I learned from them, for their influence.

“I started my career in the Fulham youth set-up, but my family moved to Germany when I was 12.

“After a few years in Bundesliga 2, I moved back to England.

"I had a short spell at Dover, then I played for Braintree Town, and then Tiptree.

"In terms of coaching, I started out as a youth coach, taking a team through to under-15 level.

"We won the league in all but one season, and the same with the cup.

"I spent some time as assistant manager at Stanway in the Alliance League, and then Heybridge.

"I then joint-managed at Witham Town and also managed at Coggeshall."

Meanwhile, there is also action for one of Hudson's former clubs tonight as COGGESHALL TOWN host Hadleigh United at West Street in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division.

In the Thurlow Nunn League First Division Knockout Cup, LITTLE OAKLEY are at AFC Sudbury Reserves for a first round tie.