Southall, 46, was a world class goalkeeper who made 751 appearances for the Merseysiders and won 92 full caps. And he is looking forward to leading Hastings to improved fortunes in the Ryman League Division One.

Southall said: "I am looking forward to the challenge. There is massive potential in Hastings. It is just a case of getting the local fans to come along. It is probably a sleepy little area, but we have a large catchment.

"I read somewhere that we have a bigger population than Wigan - unfortunately our chairman hasn’t got the same money as the man in charge of Wigan Athletic!

Our nearest League club is quite far away at Brighton, Southampton or in London. So we need to play some decent football to attract people into our ground. That’s our aim."

Southall is ambitious to improve on Hastings current league position of 14th. But he is not planning to make wholesale changes.

He said: "I am going to give the current squad a few weeks and to see how they get on. It is up to the players really. If they want to stay at the club and be part of it then brilliant! They can do that by putting in good performances and winning games.

"The onus is on the lads. And if I don’t have to change them then it is better for me. But if we have a few bad results then I am going to have to look at it again. Hopefully, I am not going to have to change an awful lot if I don‘t have to - just bits and pieces.

Maybe a little bit more organisation, some more work behind the scenes and the chance of adding a touch more quality to the squad.

"I have recent playing and coaching experience in non-League football at Dagenham and Redbridge, Dover. Canvey Island and Molesey, so I know what this level is all about. If you are well-organised, you have good discipline in your team and you fight for each other, then you have half a chance. If you can put a little bit of talent with that, you have every possibility of progressing.

"I don’t think you can get away from hard work. The one thing that anyone has to have in any job where they are earning money is the ability to work hard. So if my players give me everything, then I can’t really moan at them. Then it is up to me decide if they are good enough or not.

"There are three types of player in Non-League football. Those on the way up, those on the way down and those who have found their level. I’ve just got to find out what I’ve got at Hastings. Hopefully, we have a lot more lads on the way up than those going down."

Southall had a glittering career winning the Footballer of The Year award in 1985 as well as twice lifting The FA Cup with Everton. But his love for the grassroots level shines through.

"I started off my playing days in Non-League football playing for Llandudno, Conwy United, Bangor City and Winsford United. I love the Non-League scene because I think that’s where real football is.

"There is no real football in the Premier League because money and egos come into it and you have a different type of people involved. But in Non-League, the players work during the day and they give up their time for training and matches in the evenings. So I think they are more dedicated to their sport than a lot of the pros are.

"If you look at the Conference now, most of their teams can give any Football League side a good game. The standard of players coming into Non-League football is getting better and better.

"That is sometimes due to all the foreigners in the Premier League who have pushed the home-grown players all the way down.

"So the standard of players in Non-League football is better than we have ever had and I think the matches are well worth going to see because all the lads involved give everything on the field of play."

The players at Hastings United will benefit from Southall’s considered approach. He has some unique angles on football coaching.

"The biggest lesson I have had about coaching footballers has come from teaching. I’ve been a qualified teacher for about a year with Kent County Council and that has taughtme more than all my coaching. I’ve learnt how to present ideas and how to individualise for certain people.

"Yes I have played under some great football managers and picked up things from them, but the teaching has really helped me I have to say. It has made me realise that there is a little bit more to communicating with people that I first thought.

"Here at Hastings, we are going to take things in stages. We hope to get three wins from our next three games and then we will look at it again. I just want to break it down into little league sections and aim for nine points.

"And if we drop a few points then we will have to make them up in the next section of three games. I will present it to the lads as a series of mini-leagues so that I can try to push them through.

"If we can keep picking up nine points from three games, then we won’t be far short. We are aiming for the play-offs but if we can get above that then it will be great! And if we don’t make it this season, we will look to win the division next year."