Soccer Shorts: Faversham Town wind up their members club to form limited company

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman has unveiled two new defensive signings as he prepares for life back in the Vanarama National League South following relegation.

Danny Fitzsimons, 23, has arrived at Princes Park from Luton Town and another defender, Tom Gardiner, 20, has previously played for Hibernian, Luton Town and Cambridge City.

“Danny is a talented left-back, which is a position that I needed to fill,” Burman told www.dartfordfconline.com.

“I am delighted that he has put pen to paper, as he can now join up with the rest of the squad for their first pre-season training session (tonight).”

Burman added: “I have watched Tom a few times and was close to signing him last season. He is a centre half who will be another excellent addition and prospect for the club.”

DOVER ATHLETIC have unveiled that they have signed former Luton Town striker Ricky Miller on a two-year deal and that midfielder Nick Deverdics has committed his future to the National League club for another season.

Midfielders Liam Bellamy and Chris Kinnear (Junior) have signed deals to keep them at Crabble for a further season.

DULWICH HAMLET have signed former Metropolitan Police central defender Steve Sutherland, who was captain of the Imber Court club.

EBBSFLEET UNITED’S youth set up is to undergo a complete transformation as it brings the under 9-under 16 section – previously run independently of the club – under the expanded umbrella of its flourishing Academy.

The Vanarama National League South club has completed a deal with Wrotham School for the use of their 3G pitch for training.

The club have also made changes to their coaching team at youth team level.

Former Watford, Dagenham & Redbridge, Boreham Wood and qualified UEFA coach Gerard Prenderville will be the new youth team coach, while former Fleet favourite Stacy Long becomes lead development phase coach with responsibility for the U13-16 age group.

Also returning in a coaching capacity is Osei Sankofa, who will be lead foundation phase coach for the U9–U12 section.

Vice chairman Peter Varney told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: It is our long-term objective to develop an Academy that produces young talent for the first team. We have already signed five youth team players on full contracts and they will be loaned out to gain much-needed experience.

“Daryl McMahon did a brilliant job in establishing the youth team last season and he will continue to oversee the Academy, but the appointments of Gerard, Stacy and Osei will provide vital support and they all bring with them excellent coaching credentials and a passion and enthusiasm for developing young players.”

In a further move, former Fleet defender Dean Pooley will take on the role of Academy administrator while Steve Watt – who plays for league rivals Maidstone United - will leave the club at the end of July and the club wishes to thank him for his efforts as academy coach under Daryl McMahon.

FAVERSHAM TOWN are staging two Annual General Meetings at Salters Lane on Tuesday, 7 July at 19:30.

The Ryman League Division One South club said: “This year we need to hold two AGMs.  This is because the new limited company started trading from 1^st April 2015 after obtaining all the necessary approvals from the football authorities and Companies House. This new company took over from the members club.  Therefore we need to approve the final accounts for the 10 months up to 31^st March 2015 for the old members club and then to wind up that organisation.

“For the new limited company we need to elect directors and receive a report on development progress and prospects for season 2015-16.

“The first accounts for the limited company will be for the 14 months to 31^st May 2016 to be submitted to next year’s AGM.”

Meanwhile, first team manager Ray Turner and his assistant Clive Walker are listed as being two of eight directors of the club.

FISHER have appointed Danny Hill – who has managerial experience in the Kent County League - as their new coach to work alongside manager Dean Harrison.

GLEBE have unveiled the signing of attacking midfielder/striker Charlie Sharman, 25, who played for their Kent Invicta League rivals Rusthall last season.

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD Town have unveiled the signing of former Bromley striker Jamie Slabber, 30, who was unable to commit to the new morning traning regime at Hayes Lane.

HYTHE TOWN boss Tim Dixon says he will be donating all of the money he raises for his charity skydive on Sunday 2 August to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Dixon told www.hythetownfc.co.uk: ““I have no immediate family that have been affected by MND, but my very good friend, Sarah Farrier lost her Dad Derek to MND a couple of years ago and in 2007, Denis Hammond, a director of Dover Athletic FC, passed away.

“In addition, in 2013 an absolute football legend for Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, and one of the nicest guys I have ever met in the game, Mark Stanton lost his battle. 

“Even more recently, Neil Hams, brother of former Walton Casuals manager, Mark Hams has recently been diagnosed. I felt it was about time I did something to help and bring more awareness to this vicious disease.”

To make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/Tim-Dixon4.

MAIDSTONE UNITED have started work on their main stand extension – which is costing the Vanarama National League South club £600,000.  The main stand will almost double in size and will include a new bar and a new boardroom.  There will also be additional terracing behind both goals.

MARGATE have confirmed that defender Jack Bennett and striker Jason Prior have left the club by mutual consent.

Despite signing two-year deals last summer when joining the club from Hendon and Dartford respectively, both players have left Hartsdown Park and are now free to join another club.

Bennett leaves the club having made 25 appearances in all competitions, while Prior made 16 appearances, scoring four goals before spending the second half of last season out on loan at Ryman Premier League side Bognor Regis Town, one of his former clubs.

Margate boss Terry Brown told www.margate-fc.co.uk: “After speaking with both players we mutually agreed that they both need more first team action.

“Both Jack and Jason are very talented and there is no doubt that there will be lots of clubs looking to sign them up for next season.

“I would like to place on record my personal thanks to both players for their contribution in our promotion winning season and wish them all the best for the future.”

RAMSGATE joint-managers Jim and Danny Ward have appointed former Gillingham defender Ian Cox as their head coach.  The 44-year-old has 16 caps for Trinidad & Tobago and was part of their World Cup Squad of 2006. Meanwhile, central defender Nick Humphrey, 32, and midfielder Peter Smith have arrived from Cray Wanderers and Sittingbourne respectively.

THAMESMEAD TOWN chairman Paul Bowden-Brown says club secretary Dave Joy has returned to the club – despite a short spell this summer with ex-boss Keith McMahon at VCD Athletic.

Mr Bowden-Brown told www.thamesmeadtownfc.com: “I am very pleased that Dave Joy has decided to re-join the club in the role as club secretary after a short while away. Dave will continue in the role that he has made his own over the years within this club.

“I personally know that being a club secretary is one of the hardest jobs second only to running a non-league football club and Dave has proved during his time to be the be the very best, very consciences as well as being professional in all being dealt with professionally and on time, that is probably the reason Dave is so respected throughout the Leagues.”

VCD ATHLETIC boss Keith McMahon has signed midfielder Methias Bakare, 20, from Ryman League Division One North side Aveley. The manager said that the player is a “very good young prospect.”

WELLING UNITED winger Reece Harris says he has changed his work commitments in order to participate in the club’s three-mornings-per-week training schedule at the National League club.

“I want to play as high as I can, so cutting work hours this season to make sure I can play as much as possible is one of the things I had to do,” Harris told www.wellingunited.com.

WHITSTABLE TOWN have granted Maidstone United permission to hand highly-rated winger Scott Heard a trial.

Meanwhile, manager Will Graham told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk that he is pleased with his first pre-season in charge of the Ryman League Division One South club.

He said: “The turnout has been fantastic and the quality of lads who want to play for the club means even at this early stage we are heading in the right direction.

“It’s well-known that we have lost some players to other clubs but we have a group of loyal quality players who want to wear the Town shirt.

“My side will play attractive attacking football that all the supporters will enjoy, but if we have to grind out a win we will be capable of doing that.”