Former Hungerford boss Bobby Wilkinson is appointed Wealdstone's new manager less than a day after the departure of Gordon Bartlett

Williamson, who left the Berkshire club on Saturday boasting a 70-per-cent win record since he took the reins in 2009, is the Stones' first new manager since 1995 - and said he was "incredibly excited" to take over.

He led the Crusaders to two promotions during his time in charge, and last year to sixth place in the National League South - despite operating on a shoestring budget.

But after shocking the club by announcing his departure to "recharge his batteries" after Saturday's defeat to Welling, he found himself back in a job within three days, having accepted chairman Peter Marsden's offer to enter the managerial hotsteat at Wealdstone.

Wilkinson said: "I am incredibly excited to be coming to Wealdstone. Can I say straightaway that this is going to be about togetherness, passion and the future – all things I know the Stones fans are about.

"I have had a fantastic time at Hungerford but we are coming to Wealdstone to give it our all and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and to put a smile on faces.

‘I know it will take time but we need to make improvements, especially with our home form. We need to see fire and drive and we will work very hard with the lads to do this.

"I have met some great people at the club already and it is a great honour for me to sign a contract at this club – this is a very happy day for me."

Chairman Marsden said the club had a clear definition of the kind of new boss it looked to employ - and was confident that he had got his man.

"FC the identikit person would be someone who is young, ambitious and with a track record of success," he said. "We did not want a manager coming to the end of his managerial career or a 'name' that knows nothing about non-league football.

"Throw in to the mix an understanding of what is needed to be challenging for promotion in this very highly physical league. That man is Bobby Wilkinson."