6thmay05

Ramsgate set their sights high  - once promoted

JIM WARD admits he wants his Ramsgate side to follow in the footsteps of Cray Wanderers' - once his side are finally promoted from the Go Travel Kent League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Cray Wanderers have enjoyed a good debut season in the Ryman League Division One, finishing in sixth place, where they reached the play-offs.  However, they lost 3-1 at Horsham after 120 minutes of football on Tuesday night but Ward wants his double winners to follow suit.

The Southwood Stadium club, however, are still waiting official confirmation from the Football Association to see whether they are automatically promoted or if they have to go into a play-off.

The Rams, who were initially told they were automatically promoted before the FA changed their minds would prefare to be playing Ryman League Division One football next term.

"Well the Football Association have changed their minds two or three times now, the goalposts have moved all over the place," said Ward.

"We've been told we're promoted then we are told we are not and unofficially we've been told perhaps we won't be in the play-offs.

"So we don't really know.  We won't know until next Tuesday.  All we know there's seven champions that have passed the ground grading, a big thanks must go to the chairman (Richard Lawson) whose really dug deep and got all the work done and all the supporters have been helping.

"There's two other champions, Lymington & New Milton and Walton Casuals that have failed their ground grading.  However, both have appealed against the FA's decision and the FA are holding their appeals next Tuesday.

"So we won't know until Tuesday afternoon if they've passed and if they do that means there are 9 champions, so they'll need two teams to play-off to see who goes through as there are only eight teams to go to the next level."

If the Rams get their deserved promotion, Ward is setting his sights high.

"People keep saying to me that you must be happy to get 40 points and stave off relegation - I've never been that way in my life," he insisted.

"I like to get off to a good start and get the lads nice and fit for September, which is a big month.

"Our aim would be exactly what Jenko's (Ian Jenkins) done at Cray.  He's done a fantastic job to get them into the (Ryman League Division One) play-offs - that would be our target.

"Whether we can achieve that - a lot of that will come down to Mark (Horrop), Danny (Ward) and myself, how we get the players mentally and physically right - but I don't see no reason why not.

"Hopefully we'll be in the same league as Cray to give us more revenue to help the chairman along."