Kentish Football 
Sittingbourne supporters' deserve a good side, says joint-manager Jim Ward
Some people questioned whether or not the wily Scotsman would be seen in the dug- out this season following his departure from Ramsgate at the end of last season. But not only has Ward returned, he’s got familiar company alongside him in the Sittingbourne dug out.
He said, “Without a doubt it’s a challenge! We’ve got a new team and they’ve got to get used to me and Danny and likewise we’ve got to get used to them! But they are getting to grips with what we’re trying to tell them and the timing of it all is a collective thing rather than and individual thing albeit with a bit of individual spark as well.
“It’s what we’re trying to achieve – we’ve got a two year plan with the chairman; everyone knows we haven’t got a lot of money which is why we’ve got nine of them on contract now.”
Jim Ward added: “I’ve always said that I was going to stay in the game and I spoke to two other chairman before I spoke to Andy Spice, and I was surprised the reactions I received from them, but I’ve known Andy for years and I know the set up here at Bourne Park – it’s a great family club – and having Danny back alongside me is great.
“He knows the game inside out – we think the same way – we’ll pick a team and agree on nine or ten of them and argue about the other one; sometimes he wins; sometimes he wins!”
Still based in Thanet, the obvious drawback for the Scottish pair is the distance, but the Ward brothers have done it before.
Jim said: “I admit that the travelling is a bit of a issue, but we did it when we were at Maidstone. Sittingbourne are a good supported club but we just want to try and get a few more through the gate.”
Showing his usual enthusiasm, Ward had this to say to his divisional rivals concerning his young team. “Make no mistake that if people don’t show us any respect they’ll get beaten it’s as simple as that. We’ve had some good tests in pre-season but the results haven’t mattered yet – we’ve had players coming and going on holiday – but come opening day against Three Bridges at their place (which is always difficult to face a newly promoted club first up) we’ll all be chomping at the bit to get going.
“We’ll find out a lot about ourselves over the next few weeks and see where we are but I am still looking for a “big hairy” centre half– everyone knows it and it’s a position that we’re short in, but unless someone phones me up and says that they’ve got one for us we’ve got what we’ve got for the start at least!”
To those who questioned his decision to take the Bourne Park hot seat, Ward admitted, “I wouldn’t have taken the job on if I didn’t still have the appetite for the game – if you don’t have the appetite you get found out very quickly. We both want to give it a go – Sittingbourne is a big club – good chairman, good club, good supporters – all deserve a good side and that’s where we come in.”
Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk
Three Bridges v Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 18th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Jubilee Field Stadium, Jubilee Walk, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1LQ
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd