With the massive restructuring needed on and off the field this was too much for me to put my 100% effort into it and fit in with my job and family commitments, says Jason Lillis

JASON LILLIS says due to time and commitment needed to restructure the club, he cannot give Ramsgate the time required to put 100% into the job required.

The struggling Isthmian League South East Division club announced yesterday morning that Lillis, Joe Radford and Terry Sedge had “mutually agreed” to part company with the club.

“With the massive restructuring needed on and off the field this was too much for me to put my 100% effort into it and fit in with my job and family commitments,” said Lillis, who is employed full-time as head of coach development at League One side Gillingham.

“There were financial circumstances that have arisen before I was put in post which was a challenge to sort out and I got the extortionate playing budget down to what I was asked to which was hard enough, having to come in and look to release players to fall into budget requirements.

“My main aim was to come in and look to restructure the coaching programme and work with the youth coaches, but this had to be put back due to the time restraints needed on non-footballing matters.

“With an open and honest conversation with James Lawson (Ramsgate chairman) we both agreed it was virtually impossible to juggle work needed at Ramsgate and my work-life balance.

“James has a lot of hard work ahead of him dealing with behind the scenes restructuring and bringing fresh new faces to the board as the club needs a fresh new outlook.”

Ramsgate suffered a 7-0 humiliating defeat at Sittingbourne on Saturday and remain second from bottom in the division, having collected two wins and five draws from their 18 league outings and are without a win in nine games in all competitions.

The Rams are six points clear of the side rooted to the bottom of the table East Grinstead Town, a side without a league win in any of their 14 outings.

Ramsgate are next in action on Saturday 4 January 2020 (15:00) when tenth-placed VCD Athletic visit Southwood Stadium and they will be without centre-half Liam Friend, who has been released from his contract.

Keith McMahon’s side lost 3-2 at home to their neighbours Phoenix Sports yesterday.

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