Ultimately the players perform under my directive and the buck stops with me, admits Simon Osborn
MARGATE have appointed club captain John Beales as temporary manager after parting company with Simon Osborn and his assistant manager Ian Docker earlier today.
The decision to part-company with Osborn and Docker was taken after Saturday’s 5-3 defeat away to Bognor Regis Town, a result that leaves the Hartsdown Park outfit in eleventh-place in the Ryman Premier League, having won 8, drawn 4 and lost 8 of their 20 league games.
The Thanet based club are 10 points adrift of fifth-placed Dulwich Hamlet, but their defeat on the Sussex coast proved to be the final straw.
Chairman Keith Piper said in a statement, which was published on www.margate-fc.com earlier today: “We are now in a results game and results have not been good enough for the current management structure to be allowed to continue.”
Osborn, 41, issued the following statement to the club’s website.
He said: “Following Saturday’s defeat and after a conversation with the chairman it was felt that with the club sitting 11th in the table but with the team under-performing that we should part company.
“Ultimately the players perform under my directive and the buck stops with me.
“I’m disappointed as I know that the results will change but respect the club’s decision and will move on.
“I would like to thank all those involved at the club and the supporters for their help and support and hope the team start producing performances that Margate FC and the fans deserve. Good luck for the rest of the season.”
Margate welcome 13th placed Billericay Town to Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night for a Ryman Premier League game.
Defender Beales, 28, meanwhile, who presently remains sidelined through injury, will take temporary charge of the club - it will be his first managerial position.
Meanwhile, midfielder Wayne Wilson, 28, has re-signed for the club as a player, following a spell with Ryman League Division One South side Faversham Town.
“It’s great to be back. Exciting times are on the horizon and in my opinion Margate Football Club is the place to be,” said the Australian.
“I had a great time at Faversham and Ray Turner was a fantastic manager to work with but the chance to step back up into the Ryman Premier for the club that I work for and have at heart is one that was too good to turn down.
Wilson works for Margate as head of football in the community and is an academy coach at Hartsdown Park.
Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com
Margate v Billericay Town
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 10th December 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ