I will walk away if we don't make play-off's next season, announces Ward

Sunday 11th April 2010

RAMSGATE boss Jim Ward says he will walk away if he doesn’t guide his club to the Ryman League Division One South play-off’s at the end of next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams were held to a goal-less away draw by fifth-from-bottom side Chipstead at the weekend and have a record of 13 wins, 13 draws and 13 defeats from 39 games this season and go into their last three games in a disappointing 12th place.

“Danny Twyman, who I don’t think we’ll be playing again this season, had to come off early doors and my back-up goalkeeper Sam Mott had to take his place and except for one little fright in the first half, neither keeper had to make a save,” Ward told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We dominated the whole game, had three or four really good chances, never tucked them away.

“But on a positive side, we’ve kept three clean sheets in a row. Now, we’re not setting out to keep those clean sheets, we’re actually playing a 3-4-3 formation in the last three games and never let any goals in.

The Scot has put pressure on himself and his young side next season.

“Well, it was always going to be a transitional year,” said Ward. “We all knew that and from my point of view I’ve always told my chairman that if I don’t get this team in the play-off’s next year that will do me - I’ll let someone else have a go!

“I’ve been at the club for a long time, I’ve had a lot of success at the club, but I’ve taken this year to try and blood these youngsters. I’ve got the youngsters that I want, they’ve all got that year’s experience behind them and with the experienced players that I’ve got at the club, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the play-off’s.

“The target is to get into the play-off’s next year and if I’m unable to do that I’ll step aside.”

Ward revealed that this pressure has come from within - and not from the chairman.

He added: “At the moment we’ve got a side that’s really, really young, with 17, 18, 19 and 20-year-old’s all playing for me and they’re all doing a grand job, but they’ve had this year to learn and they’ve got to come up with the goods next year.”

Ramsgate welcome two sides vying for promotion to Southwood Stadium this week; with fifth-placed Godalming Town visiting on Tuesday, before Neil Cugley brings his Folkestone Invicta side to Southwood on Saturday.

The Rams have decided to award supporters with FREE admission against Godalming.

Vice-chairman Paul Jefcoate said: “This is a show of thanks to our supporters in what has been a hugely transitional season and also to welcome any new supporters.”

But supporters are invited to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of match officials - which normally works out at £150 per game on average.

Ward added: “We went up there and we beat them 2-1. An old player of mine, Chuck Martini, is their manager. They’re a very good footballing side, but in the second half we completely dominated the game and won the game by a stroll.

“They blow hot and cold, whether that was them hot that day or cold, I don’t know.

“We go into it, it’s another game, only three games left in the season and the lads are still playing for their shirts for next year.

“To be fair, a lot of times when you’re midtable and can’t go up or can’t go down, you say let’s get the season finished with - but nobody at the club feels this way.

“This is us building for next year. We’re trying systems, personnel and we’re trying everything.”

Folkestone Invicta remain in second place in the table as their 3-1 away win at relegation threatened Whitstable Town maintained the pressure on Croydon Athletic, who scraped a 2-1 win at Chatham Town yesterday.

The Cheriton Road outfit are four points behind cash-rich Croydon Athletic - although the two sides lock horns in the penultimate game of the season.

Folkestone would have been destined for the title if it wasn’t for the club losing ten points due to going into a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

And Ward wants to spoil their rivals chances of securing the one and only automatic place.

“That’s the other side of the coin of the play-off’s isn‘t it,” he explained. “If two teams went up, without a doubt that would be Croydon and Folkestone, with maybe Worthing as an outside chance.

“Folkestone have been top all year and if they finish second they’re in the lottery of the play-off’s.

“Now, Neil Cugley is an old pal of mine and he’ll be wishing that two people got promoted rather than the play-off’s, the opposite Leatherhead and Fleet and teams like that are thinking.

“To be top of the league all year and then have to go into the play-off’s, I don’t know.”

Looking ahead to the home derby, Ward added, “We want to beat everybody. I want to beat you in a snowball fight. I want to win every game and see my kids improve. I don’t want to see them improve in pre-season. I want them to show me what their made off now. That’s what’s been drummed into them.”

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

Ramsgate v Godalming Town

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 13th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN