MALDON and Tiptree chairman Ed Garty has backed new boss Kevin Horlock to continue the good work of Steve Ball, ahead of the club’s pre-season friendly against Colchester United.

Ball returns to Park Drive for the first time since leaving his role as Jammers boss to take over as the U’s assistant manager, when the two sides meet on Saturday.

Ball guided Maldon to a seventh-place finish in the table last season and within touching distance of the Ryman League division north play-offs, before leaving to become part of Colchester’s new-look coaching team.

Horlock, who is also the U’s under-21 assistant manager, was appointed as his successor at Maldon and ahead of this weekend’s game between the two clubs, chairman Garty believes the former Northern Ireland international can maintain the momentum created by Ball, this season.

Garty said: “We feel Kevin is the ideal man to carry on the great job that Steve Ball did and he stood out as the one from the candidates we were looking at.

“But we had to make sure that we bought into what we are doing and he did.

“He’s very excited about the role and was keen to get involved with what we’re doing with Colchester United.

“We didn’t want Steve to go but he had the opportunity to take over as Colchester’s assistant manager.”

Maldon are awaiting the release of the Ryman League fixtures for the 2016-17 season, which will be announced on Friday week (July 15).

The Jammers finished the previous season strongly and Garty said they will be aiming for the title.

“Promotion is our definite aim, this season,” said Garty.

“Last season was the first season of the project and perhaps we were a little bit naïve at first.

“We didn’t do so well at the beginning of the season.

“David (Wright) is a fantastic young coach and he put on some fantastic coaching sessions that the players really enjoyed but with the Ryman League level that we’re playing at it’s more important that you know how to win games.

“When Steve came in as our manager he knew what he wanted and sometimes you have to win ugly – we want to play attractive football to bring the lads on but we also have to win football matches.

“By the end of the season, we were 80-85 per cent there but it was too late for us in terms of promotion.

“Ideally, we’d like to win the league because then we wouldn’t have to go through the play-offs, because over two games anything can happen.

“The ideal thing would be to win the league but it’s a tough division and there are a lot of good teams.”

Horlock is looking forward to taking charge of Maldon for the first time since taking over as their manager last May when they take on the U's (kick-off 3pm).

Horlock tweeted: “Another session done with the Maldon and Tiptree lads, looking in really good shape and buzzing for first pre-season game against Colchester.”

Colchester, who have a link-up with Maldon which has seen the likes of Femi Akinwande and Ben Wyatt join the U's, will take a full first-team squad to the friendly, with each of their players likely to play 45 minutes each.

For adults cost £6, concessions are priced at £4 and under-16s are priced at £2.

Meanwhile, Maldon were named as the Ryman Division One North FA Respect Campaign winners for the 2015/16 season at the annual Ryman League Awards Evening.

The Jammers have received a prize of £1,000 for winning the award.