It will have to be a good deal to take me away from Ramsgate, says Jim Ward

OUSTED Jim Ward says it will take a very good deal to prise him away from his beloved Ramsgate – after being asked to move upstairs with immediate effect following a restructure which was announced by the club today.



The 60-year-old Scot, who resides in Broadstairs, spoke of his disappointment after it was announced that he has been replaced by Tim Dixon, while the former manager moves upstairs as the club’s new general manager.

Ramsgate presently lie in eleventh-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 52 points from 38 games and Dixon will take charge of the last remaining two home games, against Worthing this Saturday and Walton Casuals on 28 April.
 
The club issued the following statement on their official website www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk this afternoon.

“The new season will see a few changes at Southwood, where a new steering group headed by the Vice Chairman Paul Jefcoate is to be formed.

“It will comprise of a commercial manager, a business development manager and a new general manager.

“The position of commercial manager is under discussion and will be announced shortly.

“Phil Fennell will take over as the business development manager. Phil will step down as reserve team manager at the end of the season and use his contacts and expertise to help improve the structure of the club.
“After more than eight years since his return to the club, and guiding the Rams through their most successful period ever, Jim Ward is stepping down as first team manager with immediate effect to take up the position of general manager.

“Tim Dixon will take over as first team manager with Darren Beale remaining as coach.

“Chairman Richard Lawson has paid tribute to the outstanding success Jim has brought to the club and is sure that these changes will be a first step to bringing back silverware at the highest levels.”

Ward, naturally, was disappointed with the decision.

He said: “It means I won’t be picking the team on Saturday.  Timmy Dixon is the new first team manager as of now.

“I’ve been asked to move upstairs in a general manager capacity.  Obviously it just happened.  I wouldn’t want to see the club be short of anything, because I’ve been at the club, on and off for 15-16 years, so obviously disappointed but I’ll move on.”

When asked about his new role, Ward said: “What they’ll be asking me to do, it’s another name of director of football really.  It’s what I’ve been good at all over the years; locate players and get them to play for Ramsgate Football Club.  Liaise with the first team manager; scouting missions; talk to other managers; teams they’re playing against; footballing matters.

“I don’t mind stepping back for a wee while.  I’ve been at the sharp end now – I’ve had three months off since 1995 when I came away from Maidstone United.  I don’t mind being away from the sharp end for a wee while, but this job Ramsgate have offered me, whether it’s enough for me I don’t know.

“There’s no better feeling being in the dug-out and picking the team and seeing it all come together and being successful.”

Ward paid tribute to the loyalty that chairman Richard Lawson has shown him for all these years’.

“I’ve been very lucky to have a chairman who has always backed me,” said Ward.

“He’s backed me through the good times and the hard times.”

Reflecting on his two successful spells at Southwood Stadium, which was separated by three years’ in charge of their then Kent League rivals, Maidstone United, Ward can only look back with pride.

“We were successful straight away, we were runners-up in the Kent League, which wasn’t heard off for 20-30 years’ previously and then a couple of years’ later we went and won it.  We were runners-up again, we won all the cups at least once, if not twice.

“I left and went to Maidstone, again won the league, got runners-up and then never got promoted and that’s the frustrating part of it all!

“I left Maidstone in February 2004 and came back to Ramsgate and that’s when we really hit the big-time.  There were a squad of players who were there, I probably kept four or five of them and added to them with good players.

“Ollie Schulz was at the club at the time and his brother Warren and we brought them on with my brother Danny.

“And we were only two games away from the Conference (South),” added Ward, whose Ramsgate side lost away to Staines Town on a wet night at Wheatsheaf Park in the semi-finals of the Ryman Premier League play-offs in 2008.

“Now I don’t know how many ex-players are now in full-time football or are now in Conference South and Ryman Premier.  They’re all scattered about all over the county and Essex.”

But with the end of the season now only three weeks’ away, Ward will consider leaving the club to take over as boss somewhere else.

“I’d seriously think about it,” said Ward.

“I’m not saying anything untoward.  I’ve told my chairman, yes, I’m prepared to do the job, but is it enough for me?

“I’m only 60, I’m still ambitious.  I’m ten years’ younger than Sir Alex Ferguson.  I think there’s life in the old dog yet!

“I love Ramsgate Football Club and I wouldn’t do anything to harm Ramsgate Football Club.  My chairman has been patient with me over the last three years’.   When the players moved on, we lost all the players. Times haven’t been great over the last three years’ and he’s been patient with me. 

“It will have to be a good deal to take me away from Ramsgate.”

Dixon and Beale have very big shoes to fill, but Ward wishes the pair all the very best of luck.

“I wish them all the best Tim and Darren,” said Ward.

“Congratulations to both of them. They’ve landed themselves a job at one of the top clubs in Kent. Now it’s how they deal with it, now they’ve got the chance.  They’re both experienced men, both been around the block.  They’ve never actually managed at this level so it will be interesting to see how they get on. Best of luck to them.”

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk  

Ramsgate  v  Worthing
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14^th April 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN