IAN Feaver is confident of appointing a manager within the next week after becoming Ardley United’s new chairman.

The 54-year-old agreed on Monday to take over the reins from Norman Stacey at the Uhlsport Hellenic League club.

Feaver has already been faced with a big decision, applying to move down from the Premier Division to Division 1 West for next season.

He says it would be unsustainable to keep the club at their current level without a manager or players committed to the 2017/18 campaign.

The application was approved by the Hellenic League and ratified by the Football Association yesterday.

Following the resignation of Paul Davis two weeks ago, the hunt continues for a manager and Feaver is optimistic he is close to appointing a new boss.

He said: “I’ve contacted three of the applicants and underlined the situation we are faced with, in terms of players and what is needed, to see if that might put them off.

“I’m very encouraged that we have had a couple of very good conversations.

“I’m hopeful by the beginning of next week we would have appointed a new manager.”

Former Ardley and Witney Town boss Feaver has not chaired a football club before.

He believes the decision to step down to Division 1 will benefit the north Oxfordshire outfit, who finished fifth in the Premier Division and won the Supplementary Cup last season, in the future.

Feaver said: “If I had not stepped forward the club would have been in a perilous position, it could have just folded.

“When I looked to take it on I thought ‘this is going to be hard work with no budget, no players, no manager’, it’s not going to be sustainable in the Hellenic Premier Division.

“I contacted the league secretary and we felt it would be sensible for Ardley to take a step back into Division 1 West for next season.

“We just feel it would be sustainable and help us to adjust to the demands of running a football club.

“A new manager would have a chance to build a team that would be able to compete and we can move forward from there.”

Brian King, chief executive of the Hellenic League, said: “We’re fine with it (Ardley’s application).

“The necessary changes will be made.”

Feaver lives in Ardley – opposite the club’s Playing Fields ground.

During his first few days in charge, he has also held discussions with local residents to encourage more volunteers.

Feaver said: “We met with people in the village because we thought it would be important to form a committee to help us run the club.

“Quite a lot of people are willing to get involved and we feel with their support we can continue the work Norman has done.”

Stacey ended a 35-year stint as chairman a fortnight ago and had been working to find a replacement.

The 74-year-old, who will stay on as secretary, said: “I thought he (Feaver) was the ideal man.

“I approached him and after a long discussion he decided he would take the job on.

“I have always said I will help the new chairman as little as he needs it.

“But when you resign you don’t want to still run the club and I don’t intend to do that.”