Canvey Island have appointed former first-team manager John Batch as the club’s new chairman.

Batch was unanimously voted into the role at a recent board meeting and will resume responsibilities in his new role immediately.

The former youth, reserve and first team manager was more recently named the club's Director of football  and was responsible for appointing former striker Danny Heale as manager in May 2013.

And Batch is now targeting a return to the Conference as soon as possible, while promising a total re-organisation of the club’s board.

“I need to get this great club moving forward again,” he said. “We have slowed a little recently and now is time to change gear and kick on. I intend to re-organise the club from top to bottom to ensure Danny has everything he needs to get us into the Conference South as quickly as possible. This club and our supporters needs that.”

Batch has revealed he plans to give each director on the board a specific role in the development of the club with a new clubhouse and other activity in process.

He also wants to work more closely with supporters, giving them a much greater input into the club.

“We are facing difficult times with significant challenges ahead,” he said. “We can turn those challenges into opportunities if we work with our supporters, sponsors and staff to grasp those opportunities.”

The Gulls have been without a chairman since George Frost stepped down at the end of last season – with the first-team struggling this term, currently lying in 16th place in the Ryman Premier League.

Director Mick O’Brien said “I am delighted for the club. John has lots of ideas and since George Frost moved on we have lacked leadership. It is good to have somebody who bleeds Canvey Island Football Club at the helm. I have talked to John and am really looking forward to helping him implement his plans.”

Manager Danny Heale added, “I am delighted for the club. John has supported me in the dugout and in the changing rooms and I look forward to his support.”