New club United London FC has no traditional manager

An amateur football club claiming to be the world's first team with no traditional manager will line up in the Essex Alliance Premier League next season.

United London FC will instead invite fans to a weekly online vote to decide which of the club's 33 squad players should make up the starting XI and which formation they should play.

Fans can make informed decisions through the provision on the club's website of training and matchday footage, as well as other statistical guides such as heat maps.

"United London FC has been created by genuine football fans and not millionaire business owners." said chairman Mark North.

"We're in love with the game and wanted to do more than just sit back and watch. We wanted fans to engage.

"So we decided to create something honest and accessible that gives football fans the chance to have direct impact in the running a real life football club.

"As a manager, you will log in online, choose your players based on stats, videos and the assistant manager's detailed report. The players who get the most votes start the game."

The club aims to offer a last chance for its players - many of whom will be among the 700 released from football club academies every year - to make it as a pro.

They believe the dramatic rise of Leicester's Jamie Vardy from non-league to Premier League title winner will inspire rejected youngsters to give it one last shot at reaching the big time.

They even hired Vardy lookalike Lee Chapman to help launch the club at its prospective home on Hackney Marshes.

"This is just like singing and the X-Factor," said Chapman.

"There will be young lads out there who need one last opportunity, so let's hope it can happen for them."

United London FC have enlisted the help of the Football Careers Centre to identify whether its players have what it takes to make it in the professional game.

If they're good enough, the FCC will try to place them at clubs. Trials are already underway before pre-season starts next month, with friendlies also being arranged.

"It's a very interesting concept," said FCC head of coaching Kem Izzet, who played over 400 games in the Championship and League One with Colchester.

"If Jamie Vardy's progress can inspire thousands of would-be pro footballers to get off their bums and play football, then great.

"The hardest thing from our point of view is seeing a player stand out at a certain level, but then trying to work out if he has what it takes to play against better players."