Steve Morison said he was committed to bringing success to Hornchurch after being named as their new manager.

The former Millwall and Wales striker was revealed as the permanent successor to Mark Stimson - who he played under at Stevenage - after starting his coaching career at Cardiff City, where he also served as manager.

And he will work alongside assistant Anthony Fenton at the Isthmian League Premier Division club, who won the 2021 FA Trophy under Stimson before suffering back-to-back defeats in play-off finals.

"I am thrilled and honoured to have taken on the role of first-team manager of Hornchurch," Enfield-born Morison, 39, told the club website.

"Myself and Anthony are excited to take on this new challenge and lead the team to new heights on and off the pitch.

"I am committed to bringing success to Hornchurch. I will work tirelessly with our players, coaching staff and management to ensure that we perform at our best and achieve our goals.

"I am passionate about football and believe that together, we can build a strong and successful team. I am excited to work with the existing players and the wider Hornchurch community to create a culture of excellence on and off the pitch.

“I would like to thank Alex [Sharp], Colin [McBride] and the Board for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you as we embark on this exciting new journey together. Come on you Urchins!”

Morison started his career at Northampton Town in 2001-2, before joining Conference South side Bishop's Stortford in 2004 and then signing for Stimson's Stevenage in the Conference Premier in 2006.

He scored the winning goal in the 2007 Trophy final at Wembley and enjoyed further success two years later before joining Millwall and helping them gain promotion to the Championship.

A spell at Premier League Norwich City preceded a brief stint at Leeds, before he returned to Millwall and scored the 2017 League One play-off final winner.

Morison played 336 games for Millwall, netting 92 goals to sit third on the club's all-time scoring list, and finished with 242 goals in 697 career appearances.

He also won 20 caps for Wales, scoring against Montenegro in a Euro 2012 qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium, and scored three goals in eight games for the England C team.

After retiring in October 2019, he did his coaching badges at Northampton and coached their under-18s, before becoming Cardiff's under-23s coach and first-team manager.

Hornchurch chairman Alex Sharp was delighted to get his man, adding: "From the first time I spoke with Steve I knew we had found our next manager. I was drawn in by the Millwall connection, but then so impressed by his experience, professionalism and how driven he is. 

"I have loved listening to his plans of how he intends to take the club forward and I love the fact he thinks nothing of dropping down to non-league to create opportunities going forward. 

"Everyone I’ve spoken to in the game from Rob Lee to Shaun Derry, speaks highly of Steve and I really can’t wait to get going. Steve brings Anthony as his assistant, who is also very well thought of in football, and I’m excited at the thought of the players Steve and Anthony will have access to and can bring to Hornchurch FC.

“We have a great squad at the club and the players are very excited to meet Steve and see how he will help develop their careers and to that end I’m delighted to announce that Jamie Southon will join Steve’s management team which will undoubtedly help maintain the stability that we have grown to expect.

"The Board are super excited to make these appointments, we can’t wait for our fans to meet Steve and Anthony and I’m personally counting down the days until we get pre-season underway, I really can’t wait!"