Relegated VCD Athletic appoint Danny Joy and Ross Baker joint-managers ahead of return to Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division

VCD ATHLETIC have made the surprise appointment of Danny Joy and Ross Baker as joint-managers.

The pair have been installed at Oakwood following the Crayford-based club’s relegation from the Isthmian League, losing a home Inter-Step Play-Off against Phoenix Sports, courtesy of Ryan Hayes’ last-gasp penalty.

Joy and Baker returned to Sporting Club Thamesmead for their second spell in joint-charge in January but the club finished second-from-bottom in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division table, picking up 27 points from their 32 league games.

The pair lost 11 of their 14 games in charge at Bayliss Avenue, picking up seven points in the process, but the club managed to retain their status in the tenth-tier of English football (Step Six).

Vickers parted company with Michael Power, who was in charge of 11 games, losing eight, on 9 May.

Power’s assistant manager, Dean Harrison,  has since joined home-town club Wormley Rovers in Broxbourne as their assistant manager.

A VCD Athletic statement said: “Both have experience managing at Step Four with Phoenix Sports and most recently Sporting Club Thamesmead.

“We welcome them both along with their coaching staff to the club and wish them well in their roles as VCD prepare for the season in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/vcdathleticfc