BEDFONT Town have appointed two non-league legends at their new managerial team at The Orchard.

Kevin Cooper, who remains Football League new-boys AFC Wimbledon's all-time top goalscorer, is the new manager after cutting his managerial teeth as assistant at Tooting & Mitcham last season.

Cooper, who scored more than 100 goals in AFC's early days in the Combined Counties and Ryman Leagues, had as short spell for Bedfont in their former guise as Bedfont Green a few years ago.

He also turned out for Charlton Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Aldershot Town, Northwood, Marlow, Carshalton Athletic, Met Police and Dover in an illustrious career.

Cooper's assistant will be Martin Beard, who began his career as a schoolboy at Crystal Palace before turning out for Carshalton Athletic, Harrow Borough, Croydon, Croydon Athletic, Banstead Athletic and Godalming Town, and was assistant manager at Merrow last season.

The duo will be assisted in first team duties by new coach Dwight Lewis, while the Capital League squad will be managed by Peter Heyne, and the existing goalkeeping coaches, Steve Honey and Peter Crowder, will remain.

The new team takes over from former boss Dennis Bainborough, who over the past four years, has guided the club to their highest ever level of football, in the Zamaretto League.

However, family business has taken Bainborough over to New Zealand for long spells over the past two seasons, and the coming campaign would have been his last before retiring anyway.

Bainborough, who also guided Hounslow Borough to the Hellenic League Division One East title five years ago, has now been offered a director of football role at Bedfont.

Chairman Doug White insisted the new appointments will take his rapidly growing club, who were playing intermediate football only seven years ago, to the next level.

He said: “We are undergoing a calculated restructuring of the club in an attempt to move forward, create strength in depth and widen our catchment area.

“This is particularly important now we have established ourselves as a top 10 club in Zamaretto Division One, and have been accepted into the Capital League.

“We have offered a director of football role to Dennis and acknowledge his role and achievements, and that of his assistant Jon-Barrie Bates, in the last four seasons in senior football, which have been wonderful.

“It is felt that our new management team gives us a wider dimension, and the opportunity to bring both young and experienced players from all areas to add to our current squads.

“We want to use these changes to spring from the solid platform that exists in order to pursue our realistic ambitions.”