HAVANT & Waterlooville have signed Pat Suraci and Joe Lea as joint first team managers following their recent departure from Poole Town.
The manager duos careers started in Petersfield Town before their move to work wonders at Gosport Borough, then again at Poole and have now found their way to Westleigh Park.
As players, both Pat Suraci and Joe Lea came through local football academies with Portsmouth and Southampton before branching off with their own playing careers.
Joe Lea signed for Yeovil Town where he made two appearances and in 2018 he signed made the move to Gosport Borough, where he stayed for four years before teaming up with fellow player, Pat Suraci to take on the head coach role at Petersfield.
Suraci branched out to Belgium at 18-years-old to sign a Professional contract with Lommel United, once he returned to England the footballer found himself at Gosport where he linked up with Lea, heading into management.
The pair started off their managerial careers taking the Rams back into the Wessex League Premier Division and also reaching the Wessex League Cup Final in 2023.
Upon their return to, this time at the helm, Suraci and Lea took on a team that finished 17th on the table and made them into promotion contenders, finishing off the season in fourth. During their time at PO12 they boasted a huge win rate, cementing themselves as turn around kings.
In January 2025, the duo made the joint move to Poole Town where they performed a similar feat of helping the team climb the league table. The Dolphins secured a play-off position in their first full season in charge.
It is hoped that the pair can turn the Hawks season around, the team currently sit 21st on the table. Will the fixer uppers be able to pull off an amazing feat and drag the team out of the relegation zone?
