FLACKWELL Heath are set to name former England Non League captain Chris Sparkes as their new assistant manager.

The 31-year-old former Hayes and Yeovil centre half will combine his managerial duties with playing as the Heathens bid to bounce back following the disappointment of losing the Associate Members Cup Final.

Boss Andy Driscoll says the Sparkes deal is almost done and he is delighted with the capture.

He said: "We've only got him because he is a good friend of mine. Really he is good enough to still be playing in the Conference. He will make a lot of difference to us next season. He's 6ft 4ins, he can tackle, he can head the ball, he can pass and he's a really good talker."

Promising young Heathens keeper Adam Thomson is on the verge of a move to Conference side Hayes. The teenager had been training with Leicester City's U19 outfit and has also caught the eye of Millwall. Meanwhile Flackwell's first team keeper Steve McCarthy also looks set for a move with Hemel Hempstead the favourites to snap him up along with Heath's left sided player Jason Bowler.

Ex-keeper Lee Knott has already held talks with Driscoll about a return to Wilks Park.

Flackwell Heath won a national veterans tournament with a 3-2 win over their Nottinghamshire-based opponents at Burton Albion's ground last week.

Tony Calvert scored twice and Flackwell were also helped by an own goal as they won the over 35s competition.