RYMAN LEAGUE LINE UP: VCD ATHLETIC THROWN OUT OF RYMAN LEAGUE

Monday 17th May 2010

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell says he wants to build a side that are capable of finishing in the play-off’s at the end of next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Hartsdown Park outfit have finished their last two campaigns fourth-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table - but on each occasion have escaped the drop.

O’Connell, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, following the news that the Kent club have received another reprieve, wants to enjoy a successful first full season in charge.

The Ryman League released details of their constitution for next season, although Margate officials knew about their escape before everybody else.

“We already knew!” said O’Connell. “We’ve been told by the League before, but it’s nice to have it official anyway because it makes it easier when I’m talking to other players. I’m pleased with that.”

Retaining Ryman Premier League status will help O’Connell sign the quality players that he needs to improve matters on the pitch.

Essex resident O’Connell confirmed that Jamie Turner (goalkeeper), Tommy Osborne (defender), Aaron Lacy (defender), Jay Saunders (midfielder) and striker James Pinnock - the backbone of the side - have all agreed to stay for next season.

Central midfielder, Wayne Wilson, meanwhile, is considering taking up an option on his current contract.

Kieran Morris (defender), Jack Haverson (defender), Lloyd Blackman have all been released, including much-travelled striker Leroy Huggins, who has dropped down two divisions to sign for Erith & Dartford Town in the Kent League.

Curtis Robinson, meanwhile, is a target for Ramsgate, but Jim Ward will have to negotiate a transfer fee if he wants to prise the left-back away from his home-town club, as the player is under the age of 24 and has been offered a new contract by his current club.

O’Connell added: “I’ve spoken to most of the players - and I’m still talking to other players as well.

“Hopefully we won’t have any more traumatic seasons. Obviously we don’t want to be down at the bottom.

“The last two years they’ve been in the bottom four and we don’t want that to happen again.”

O’Connell is talking to potential new signings as he bids to climb the table to where a club of Margate’s stature should be.

“I’m just hoping we can go on and build and if I get the players that I want, we’ll be looking at the play-off’s,” he said.

When asked about the calibre of his targets, O’Connell replied, “Very good ones! What more can I say? I just want good players who have got a bit of character, are good lads, that’s what you want in the side really. There’s not much more I can add to that really.

“If I get these players, like I said, but there’s other clubs going for the players I want so I’ll just have to wait and see.”

So what does today’s news mean to next season’s Ryman League line-up?

The Ryman League will welcome five new clubs - two old friends and three complete newcomers - including three from Suffolk, according to the provisional allocations released by the Football Association this afternoon.

The FA emphasise that some issues remain outstanding and there could yet be changes.

Two of the Suffolk clubs, Bury Town and AFC Sudbury, played in the Midland Division of the Zamaretto League last season.

Bury, who won that division with 102 points, are promoted to the Ryman Premier Division while Sudbury join Division One North, returning to the division where they played from 2006-08, as did Bury.

The third Suffolk club, Needham Market, will also compete in Division One North in their first season of Step 4 football, having won the Ridgeons Eastern League title.

Two other county league champions, FA Vase semi-finalists Whitehawk (Sussex) and Faversham Town (Kent) are promoted to Division One South. They, too, will be experiencing Step 4 football for the first time.

VCD Athletic have been relegated back to the Kent League after just one season, after failing to achieve the necessary ground grading.

A Ryman League statement said: “VCD Athletic have been relegated to the Kent League after failing to achieve the necessary ground grading.

“They are treated as having finished 22nd in Division One North, thus giving a relegation reprieve to the actual bottom club, Harlow Town.”

That means, only Thamesmead Town will be the only Kent side playing Ryman League Division One North football next season.

Manager Keith McMahon, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, doesn’t mind having no Kent derbies next season.

He said: “I’m really happy. I like the North Division, I’ve said before. It looks like a bit more travelling with AFC Sudbury and Needham Market coming in but I’m pleased with it.

“It’s a league we know and I’m happy to be in it.”

As expected, the teams who finished 21st in the Division One sections, Leyton and Walton Casuals, escape relegation because clubs at higher levels have folded or chosen to drop down.

That also means that Margate stay up despite finishing 19th in the Premier Division. Ashford Town (Middx), who finished one place below them, are relegated but will switch to the Zamaretto League's Central Division.

There are five changes to last season’s line-up in the Premier Division.

As well as Ashford, the other departures are the two sides promoted to Blue Square South, Dartford and Boreham Wood, and the remaining relegated clubs, Bognor Regis Town and Waltham Abbey.

Taking their places are five promoted sides Concord Rangers and Lowestoft Town from Division One North, Croydon Athletic and Folkestone Invicta from Division One South, and Bury Town.

The two clubs relegated from Blue Square South, Weston-super-Mare and Weymouth, will both play in the Zamaretto League.

Relegated Waltham Abbey join Sudbury and Needham Market as newcomers to Division One North, taking the places of the two promoted clubs and VCD Athletic.

Bognor are relegated to Division One South. They, Faversham and Whitehawk take the places of the promoted clubs and Eastbourne Town, relegated to the Sussex County League after finishing at the foot of the table.

The full line-ups:

Premier: AFC Hornchurch, Aveley, Billericay Town, Bury Town, Canvey Island, Carshalton Athletic, Concord Rangers, Cray Wanderers, Croydon Athletic, Folkestone Invicta, Harrow Borough, Hastings United, Hendon, Horsham, Kingstonian, Lowestoft Town, Maidstone United, Margate, Sutton United, Tonbridge Angels, Tooting & Mitcham United, Wealdstone.

Division 1 North: AFC Sudbury, Brentwood Town, Cheshunt, East Thurrock United, Enfield Town, Great Wakering Rovers, Harlow Town, Heybridge Swifts, Ilford, Leyton, Maldon & Tiptree, Needham Market, Northwood, Potters Bar Town, Redbridge, Romford, Thamesmead Town, Tilbury, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Forest, Ware, Wingate & Finchley.

Division 1 South: Ashford Town, Bognor Regis Town, Burgess Hill Town, Chatham Town, Chipstead, Corinthian-Casuals, Dulwich Hamlet, Faversham Town, Fleet Town, Godalming Town, Horsham YMCA, Leatherhead, Merstham, Metropolitan Police, Ramsgate, Sittingbourne, Walton & Hersham, Walton Casuals, Whitehawk, Whitstable Town, Whyteleafe, Worthing.