Bennett last managed the club in 2015 when Littlehampton won the Sussex County League championship on the final day of the season.

Bennett’s first game as manager will be against Mile Oak at The Sportsfield on Saturday.

Chairman Rob McAlees told the club`s website: “We are delighted to announce Mark Bennett’s return to Littlehampton Town Football Club.

“As a title-winner as a player and then 25 years later as a manager, Mark’s heart has always been close to this club and he’s looking forward to his second stint as manager.”

Bennett won the Sussex County League as a player for the Marigolds in the 1991 season, then joined as manager in April 2011 for a four-year stint.

In his first season in charge, Bennett guided Littlehampton to fourth place in Division Two, then won the title the following year when the club were also finalists in the John O’Hara League Challenge Cup.

Bennett took Littlehampton to third place in the team’s first season back in the Division One, then in 2015 memorably won the title on the final day of the season to lift the championship trophy for the first time since 1991 – losing only four league games all season.

After winning the title, Bennett left to join Pagham but re-joins Littlehampton with immediate effect, coming in to manage the squad for Saturday’s home fixture against Mile Oak.

Littlehampton had parted company with Nigel Geary, who had been with the club since the summer.