Kent United appoint Del Oldfield as their new manager as Dartford based outfit decide to change their management structure and start afresh

KENT UNITED chairman Matt Purser has appointed Del Oldfield as the club’s new manager last night.

The artist formerly known as Red Velvet, are currently sitting in seventh-place in the Kent County League Premier Division table with 17 points (five wins, two draws) from their 13 league outings.

“We have announced the departure of the management team of Ian Jenkins, Mark Tompkins and Gary Cooke,” said a club statement.

“Due to work commitments of Matt Purser, chairman and majority shareholder, the club decided to change the structure and start afresh.

“We would like to put on record their thanks to Ian, Mark and Gary for their hard work and we wish them all the best for the future.

“The club have moved swiftly to appoint a new manager and we are delighted to welcome Del Oldfield to the club.”

The former manager of Phoenix Sports Reserves and Erith & Belvedere takes charge of the Dartford based outfit for the first time tomorrow, a trip to Sittingbourne-based side Borden Village.

Their hosts are in ninth-place in a sixteenth-placed division, having picked up 14 points (four wins, two draws) from their 11 league games.

Since losing 4-1 at Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division big-hitters Faversham Town in the Kent Senior Trophy on 14 October, Jenkins’ last games in charge of Kent United saw them beat Borden Village 2-1, before being held to home draws by Bermondsey Town (3-3) and Fleetdown United (0-0), before the eleventh-tier club decided to change their management structure and start afresh.

Kent United are eight points adrift of league leaders Halls Athletic, who have three games in hand on Oldfield's men.