US Portsmouth boss Glenn Turnbull set to be appointed Moneyfields manager

Turnbull will return to Dover Road - where he used to manage the Moneys youth team - after USP’s FA Vase and Wessex League Cup commitments are over.

Turnbull was one of four men interviewed by Moneys chairman Pete Seiden and his fellow directors in the wake of Dave Carter quitting to join AFC Portchester in early February.

The other three - including ex-Portchester and Gosport boss Mick Catlin - have all managed at a higher level than Turnbull.

But Turnbull’s recent successes at the Victory Stadium – they have been the outstanding team over the last two Wessex League Division 1 seasons - have earned him the right to jump up two steps of the non-league ladder.

Seiden told The News: ‘All four were interviewed were very credible and all would have done a great job.

‘We just felt Glenn was what we were looking for at this moment in time.

‘He’s built a team at US Portsmouth who have been the talk of the local non-league scene. I have watched them a few times and they’re a good young side.

‘He’s done that with virtually no budget, and he’s built a great team spirit.

‘We are hoping he can bring some of those players over - I know Wessex League clubs have been looking at a lot of them.

‘We could have gone with a ‘safe’ option - all the others we interviewed have managed at a higher level - but sometimes it’s good not to go down that route.’

Turnbull, who becomes only the third Moneys boss since 2003, will be bringing assistant manager Fraser Quirke - a one-time Moneyfields player - and head coach Paul Barton with him from US Portsmouth.

Moneyfields have placed Louis Bell and Louis Savage in joint charge of the first team ahead of next month’s Portsmouth Senior Cup semi-final with Fareham on April 24.

Turnbull has at least two USP games left to oversee - an FA Vase fourth round tie with Christchurch on April 17 and a Wessex League Cup semi-final with Bemerton on a date to be arranged.