Foley unveiled as Chatham Town's new boss

Monday 31st May 2010

CHATHAM TOWN have this evening confirmed that former VCD Athletic boss Paul Foley has agreed to become the club’s new manager with immediate effect, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 38-year-old quit VCD Athletic only yesterday so he could take up the role, vacated by rookie boss Alex O’Brien, who lasted just one season at Maidstone Road.

Foley guided the Crayford based club to second place in the Kent League in his first year in charge and followed this up by clinching the Kent League title and Kent Senior Trophy.

Vickers competed in the Ryman League for the very first time in it’s 94-year history last season, finishing in eighth place with 67 points.

But the club were relegated from Ryman League Division One North earlier in the month as the club failed ground grading criteria, although the club have submitted an appeal.

Explaining his departure from Oakwood, Foley told www.vcd-athletic.co.uk: “The club are in receipt of my resignation which was on the cards last season for one reason or another.

“I wanted to see the season out and make sure that the club did themselves justice in the Ryman League.

“We did all of that, and some, as we were clearly a valuable acquisition to the Ryman League in my view but the way in which the club has been treated by the league is clearly scandalous.

“That process and the appeal which is pending has very little to do with my decision to step down as this was in my mind anyway. I will be assisting the appeal process in whatever way I can to help VCD and if necessary in a professional capacity.”

Chatham Town finished sixth-from-bottom in Ryman League Division One South last season in what was O’Brien’s only season in charge - his first as a manager.

Last summer, Chatham were tipped by many to be one of the dark horses to clinch a play-off spot in Ryman League Division One South, considering the players that O’Brien had persuaded to sign for the club, signing some of his former team mates at Dartford.

But a loss of training facilities around Christmas saw results take a nose dive and the club finished the campaign in a disappointing sixth-from-bottom.

In 22 games with training facilities, Chatham collected 30 points, but following the loss of their training base, the side collected only 16 points from their remaining 20 games.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Visit VCD Athletic's website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk