I know the players and myself are going to work tirelessly to get that success and get this club to where it needs to be and where it belongs to be, says newly-appointed Ramsgate manager Jamie Coyle

RAMSGATE chairman James Lawson has appointed Jamie Coyle as the club’s new manager tonight.

The 39-year-old centre-half has featured in 21 games for the Isthmian League South Eastern Division club this season.

The club parted company with Steve Lovell on Monday, just a couple of days after losing 2-0 at Three Bridges.

The departure of the 62-year-old Welshman came as a shock as the club were sitting in second-place in the table at the time, on 46 points (14 wins, four draws and five defeats) from their 23 games.

Lovell replaced Matt Longhurst on 27 April 2002 and was in charge of 33 games in total, winning 17, drawing six and losing 10 games in all competitions.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind to be honest with you,” said Coyle in a statement.

“It only happened today. The chairman rang and said that basically ‘we’d like you to take the job and continue on the success that we’ve had so far this season’.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have six promotions in my career, whether that’s been a player, or an assistant manager or coach.  I’m really looking to continue that success here at Ramsgate Football Club moving forward.”

With Beckenham Town moving into second-place following their deserved 2-0 home win over leaders Chatham Town on Tuesday night, Ramsgate host eighth-placed Littlehampton Town on Saturday in third-place in the table, only two points behind Kevin Hake’s leaders.

Coyle added: “I think short-term we have to try to improve our form.  Over the last six to eight games we’ve dropped slightly, so I want to tweak that and get the confidence back in the boys because we’ve got one of the best, if not the best squads in the league.

“I know the players inside out. I know them as team-mates and I’ve seen them away from football and we’ve got a real honest, hardworking bunch here and they just want success for the football club, as I do.

“I know the players and myself are going to work tirelessly to get that success and get this club to where it needs to be and where it belongs to be – and we’re going to need everyone a part of that drive, whether it’s the physio, the kitman, the bar staff, everyone around the club.

“We’ll need a real push between now and the end of the season.  We’ve got 12 weeks of real, real hard work and if we do that and everyone comes together, like I know they will, then we’ll have a promising end to the season, I’m sure.”

Coyle has previous managerial experience at both Welling United and Dartford, two levels higher in National League South and was Jay Saunders' assistant manager at Isthmian League Premier Division neighbours Margate before switching to play for the Rams in August 2021.

Coyle has played for Gravesend & Northfleet, Sittingbourne, Dulwich Hamlet, Dartford, Welling United, Leatherhead, Maidstone United, Hythe Town, Margate and Ramsgate in a 22-year career in the non-league game.

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgatefc.co.uk