WAYNE Bond has stepped into the breach at Heybridge Swifts.

The director of football at Scraley Road has taken over the manager’s mantle after former boss Mark Hawkes, along with assistant Steve Smith, left to take up the reins at Skrill South Chelmsford City.

This week has also seen top striker Luke Callander leave the club to join up with the former Swifts management team.

A statement released by the club last week said: “Further to the departure of first team manager Mark Hawkes and his assistant Steve Smith, Heybridge Swifts are pleased to announce that director of football, Wayne Bond, assisted by Chris Moore, will take charge over first team affairs with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future.

“A further announcement with regards to the appointment of a permanent management team will be made over the coming few weeks.

“The committee would like to place on record its thanks to both Mark and Steve for their past efforts over the past two years and wish them every success for the future.”

Bond took on the role of director of football in February 2013 and managed the side between August 2008 and January 2011.

Bond was in charge of the Swifts team that were held to a Ryman League division one north 1-1 derby draw with neighbours Burnham Ramblers on Saturday.

Bond, however, is unsure, that it would be in the best interests of the club if he was to take the role on permanently.

He said: “The club needs a period of stability. I am willing to do the job for three or four weeks if they want me to do it.

“But I think they do need to explore the other options that are out there.

“The club is in a great postion.

“I am sure that there will be some surprising people coming out of the woodwork when the CVs start coming in.

“I have said to the club that they need fresh faces and fresh ideas.

“I will still be part of the club and if they offer the job to me then I would accept it.

“However, if someone else is offered the job I won’t be going away crying because I am the one who suggested it.

“If they say do it until the end of the season then of course I would.”

Speaking about his return to the manager’s hot-seat and the last Saturday’s derby, Bond said: “ It was a bit of a tough one on Saturday.

“I enjoyed it. We should have scored three goals in the first ten minutes.

“But to be fair they deserved their point.

“But when you look around the league, with leaders VCD Athletic losing and them playing Witham on Saturday, it is a case of two points dropped.

“We could have closed the gap on VCD.”

Swifts face what, on paper, looks like a very winnable game this weekend when they entertain bottom-of-the-table Waltham Forest.

However, Bond is sure that it will be anything but an easy game.

He said: “This Saturday’s game will be a tough one.

“I know Waltham are at the foot of the table but they are a good, physical side.

“They will be looking at our situation and think that they can come away with a win.”