Struggling Whitstable Town part company with Munday

Sunday 21st March 2010

RELEGATION threatened Whitstable Town have parted company with manager Mark Munday with only ten league games remaining as the club bid to beat the drop back down to the Kent League, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Ryman League Division One South’s bottom club took the decision to part company with Munday yesterday evening and appointed long-serving coach Mark Lane as caretaker manager until the end of the season.

Munday, who enjoyed a successful playing career for the likes of Gravesend & Northfleet and Margate, but struggled in his first manager’s job.

In 32 league games in charge at Belmont Road (after he was promoted from midfielder to manger this season, and played when required), Whitstable won only eight and drew two of their games and 24 goals scored represented the division’s lowest goalscoring total.

Yesterday’s 2-0 home defeat to Horsham YMCA (the club’s fourth successive defeat) proved to be the final straw for the club.

“The decision was taken at a board meeting on Saturday after another disappointing result, which found the Kent club still at the bottom of the Ryman League (Division One) South,” said a club statement, posted on www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“It is hoped that with just ten matches to play the club can change course and get the necessary results to avoid relegation.

“The board were hoping that Mark Munday could turn results around but the last three matches have seen nine goals conceded and just one scored and they needed to act to try to resolve the situation.

“The board would like to thank Mark Munday for all his hard work and fully understand that the job had not been easy with lots of matches cancelled this season. We wish him well for the future.”

Lane will begin his new role tomorrow, with a home Kent derby against Ramsgate on Tuesday, but six of their last ten league games are at home and Whitstable have performed better at Belmont Road with 16 points being picked up on home soil.

Ramsgate (who beat play-off chasing Godalming Town yesterday), meanwhile, have a better away record this season and will be a tough test in Lane’s first game in charge.

In their previous two campaigns at this level, Whitstable, under the guidance of Marc Seager, finished their campaigns in 14th and 16th - but collected 50 points from 42 games.

It was a shock when Seager quit just minutes after the final game of last season due to family commitments.

One of the nice guys in Kent football, we can only hope that Munday dusts himself down and comes back stronger, as it would be a crying shame to lose such a person from the game.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Whitstable Town v Ramsgate

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At The Belmont Ground, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP