22ndjune05

Wednesday 22nd June 2005

Ford pleased with his new backroom team

A lot has gone on in the background at Kent League club VCD Athletic and it's out with the old and in with the new, writes Stephen McCartney.

Joining the club's backroom team for the new season are Dean Frost, Peter Webb and Terry Jessop.

Former Vickers', Dartford and Bromley defender Frost, a London Black Cab driver, was the club's reserve team manager last season following his release from Hayes Lane, and he has been appointed the new assistant manager and joint first team coach, alongside Ray Ward.

Webb has taken over as the new physio to replace Peter Burke, who has joined local rivals, Thamesmead Town.

The final piece in the jigsaw is the capture of Jessop as their new goalkeeping coach.

Boss, Martin Ford, is pleased with the appointments.

He told the club's website: "All three additions are first class appointments and will bring a more professional approach to the club as we look forward to our return home the following season.

"I am looking forward to working with all three of them, alongside Ray."

The need to bring in fresh faces was necessary after first team coach, Simon Halsey, left to join Kent League rivals, Whitstable Town and Burke left the club to pursue a fresh challenge as Mead's youth team joint-manager.

"Simon felt Whitstable would give him a better chance of coaching in a higher standard if they win promotion," Ford said.

"Peter wishes to go with his young son to Thamesmead.

"I wish both of them every success in the future, especially to Peter who has served the club with distinction over the past nine years from player to coach."

With less than three weeks until the first football match in the county takes place at Longmead Stadium between Tonbridge Angels and Sutton United, VCD Athletic return to pre-season training on the 28th June.

"The players are back for pre-season training on the 28th June and at the moment they have all promised me - apart from one of our contracted players - that they will be there," Ford said.

But Cray Wanderers' boss, Ian Jenkins, who has already signed former VCD Athletic striker, Jon Main, has revealed VCD midfielder Danny Penny has been invited to the Ryman League Division One club for pre-season training with a view to signing for the club.

"I am not foolish, however, to know that they have been approached by other managers but with the return home (to Old Road, Crayford) now well underway, they know what the club can now offer them."

Ford, however, admits he is close to finding a new management team for their second string.

"We have a couple of new people in mind so hopefully they will be in place by next weekend," revealed Ford.