Ramsgate announce the resignation of player-manager Jamie Coyle after failing to win promotion

RAMSGATE begin the search for a new manager after announcing that player-manager Jamie Coyle has resigned from the position.

The Rams lost top spot to Chatham Town and had to settle for runners-up in the Isthmian League South East Division, having picked up 72 points from their 38 league games but drawing 12 league games cost the club a chance of gaining automatic promotion.

Ramsgate lost 4-3 on penalties to Hythe Town after a 1-1 draw at home on Tuesday night, which means it will be Steven Watt's Cannons that contest tonight’s Play-Off Final in Brighton against third-placed finishers Whitehawk.

Coyle, 39, who was assisted by Nicky Southall, was in charge of 18 games, where Ramsgate won seven, drew nine and lost two of his games in League and Kent Senior Cup ties.

The Rams lost 3-1 to Isthmian League Premier Division side Margate in the Kent Senior Cup Semi-Finals.

“We would like to thank Jamie for his time with us as both player and manager,” said a club statement.

“The engagement of the supporters across so many generations that we now have has made the club more ambitious than we’ve ever been.

“The search for a new manager will start straight away.”

Coyle took over from Steve Lovell on Thursday 2 February and had previous managerial experience at both Welling United and Dartford and was Jay Saunders’ assistant manager at Margate before switching to play for the Rams in August 2021.

The central defender has also 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.ramsgate-fc.co.uk