Ryman League: Alan Pook has set his sights on the title after taking over as manager at Worthing.

Rebels' directors today confirmed reports of Barry Lloyd's departure, 19 months into his second spell as boss at the Ryman League side.

His exit came four days after he was voted out of his position by a 4-1 majority at a board meeting.

Directors then claimed the situation had been smoothed over and Lloyd would remain in joint charge of the first team alongside Pook.

Lloyd is refusing to comment on his dismissal but has made it clear he believed he should remain in sole charge of the first team.

Pook initially appointed himself joint first team boss following his recent appointment as board member with responsibility for football matters.

He today insisted: "There were going to be teething problems with having joint managers but I could see it working.

"You can't have warring factions at a club, though, and that's what we had.

"Our aim now is to get promotion. That is the be-all and end- all this year and we aim to go up as champions."

Pook has lined up two high profile signings but insisted: "We will not be about big contracts and big money."