After the departure of Alan Carey as manager last week you would have thought those in charge at Jolly’s Combination League side Mullion would have struggled to find a replacement with a bigger reputation in the game, but then football is full of surprises, writes Simon Larkins.

The boss for Mullion as they travelled to Portreath at the weekend was none other than former West Bromich Albion captain and Coventry City midfielder Sean Flynn.

He is a footballer who has played at the highest level winning promotion from the first Division with Derby County in 1995/96 and playing 93 times in the top tier of English football scoring eight goals.

While he has only agreed to take the job on a caretaker basis at the minute, Mullion chairman David Hearn said he was delighted with the appointment.

“He seems to have the players that will back him. In training on Wednesday they responded to him and his ideas. He is the caretaker at the moment as he hasn’t had a management job before so I think he wants to see how it goes.”

Speaking about Alan’s departure, chairman Hearn, said: “To be honest we were a bit disappointed as Alan came to us initially.

“We were in a lowly position at the time and he got us from second bottom position in the league to about fifth last Saturday.”

Carey was offered the Falmouth job in early December but turned it down to stay at Mullion until the end of the season, Hearn admits he was saddened when he Carey told him he couldn’t fulfill that promise.

“I got a phone call from him on New Year’s eve morning saying he was really sorry but that Falmouth Town had come back to him and if he didn’t take the job now it might go.”

“I’m not against him for doing what he did it just a shame he couldn’t stay until the end of the season. He is an excellent manager and he’ll do a good job wherever he goes.”

However, in Flynn Mullion have got a player who has worked under some of the most experienced managers in the game including former Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson and Derby’s Jim Smith.

Therefore the chairman believes, with the crop of good youngsters they have, the future at the club is bright.

“We are too far off the top to win anything this year,” said Hearn. “However, we have got the resources and a good young team and if we can keep them together and Sean at the club then hopefully next season we could get into the Cornwall South West Peninsula League West. I would love this club to be back up there.”