Vickers management team join Foley at Chatham Town

Thursday 10th June 2010

CHATHAM TOWN’S new manager Paul Foley has unveiled a familiar looking management team.

Joining him at Maidstone Road is Mark Newson, who was his assistant at former club VCD Athletic, with Kevin Watson signing as the club’s new player coach.

Foley had hoped that Andy Silk would be able to join him in the move from VCD, but Silk has been unable to commit due to work commitments.

Completing the management team will be goalkeeping coach Barry Bell and physiotherapist Phil Jeffs.

“It is a real shame that Andy could not join up with us all once more but a change in his working hours on a Saturday meant he would not be able to commit fully to the role,” Foley told www.chathamtownfc.net.

“Silky was superb for us at VCD over the last two seasons and will be sorely missed, not only for his coaching but also for his dressing room presence where his character was infectious.

“That said, we’re delighted to have Kevin on board with us. When he signed for VCD halfway through the last season, he was keen to move into coaching and we agreed that at the right time we would look to bring him onto the management team.

“Silky didn’t want to let anyone down so told me straight away after his first week on his new hours. I immediately thought of bringing Kevin into the team and along with Mark and myself, we have a good mix for the new campaign and a fresh link to new players given the clubs Kevin has played for over the last 10 years.

“Kevin will continue to be a key member of the playing staff but he will become more involved with the management team and the training sessions.”

The new look management team will be meeting all of the players who are coming to pre season this weekend to go through the pre season plans. Details of the new signings and the existing players who are re signing will be released in the near future.

The only players to have left the club were goalkeeper Richard Stroud and midfielder James Lyons, who have both signed for Kent League side Erith & Belvedere.

Meanwhile, Chatham Town have issued profiles of their new management set-up.

Paul Foley: Ex Margate, Fisher Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Greenwich Borough, Erith & Belvedere, Ramsgate, Maidstone and Dartford defender/midfielder who has won the Kent League twice at spells with Ramsgate and Maidstone (and a small cameo when Cray Wanderers won the league for the 2nd time), the Kent Senior Trophy 4 times with Greenwich Borough, Ramsgate, Maidstone and VCD and the Kent League Cup 3 times with Greenwich Borough, Ramsgate and Maidstone. Scored a solitary goal for Fisher back in 1989 in their Conference days and reached the last 8 of the FA Vase with Ramsgate and last 16 twice with VCD. Went from captain to manager at VCD for the 2007/08 season narrowly missing out on a first-season title win finishing in 2nd spot before securing the Kent Premier League and Kent Senior Trophy in only his second season in charge. Led the Crayford based club into the Ryman North for the first time in their 94 year history where they finished the season on 67 points in 8th spot just missing out on the play off places.

Mark Newson: Former professional player having played for AFC Bournemouth, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Vaxjo International in Sweden. ‘Newse’ started as a professional with Charlton Athletic before enjoying a distinguished non-league career with Maidstone United before being snapped up by then Bournemouth manager Harry Redknapp where he captained the side to the Third Division championship in 1987. Mark then continued his career for a number of high profile non-league clubs including Barnet, Aylesbury United, Gravesend & Northfleet and Fisher Athletic. Mark is fully qualified coach who works for the Kent FA and also at the David Beckham Academy as a senior coach and teamed up with the Paul Foley at VCD at the end of November 2009 before agreeing to join the management team at Maidstone Road.

Kevin Watson: The former Folkestone, Welling United, Carshalton, Team Bath, Maidstone United and Concord Rangers defender is the new player-coach to work alongside Manager Paul Foley and Assistant Manager Mark Newson. Former VCD coach Andy Silk was unable to commit to the role due to work commitments so Foley moved quickly to appoint from ‘within’ and hand the 28 year old Watson his first senior coaching role. Watson holds a UEFA “A” coaching badge; is a qualified FA Coach and PE teacher who is delighted to accept the role of Player-Coach.

Barry Bell: Joined Foley’s VCD management team in October 2008 at the same time as James Tedder rejoined VCD as he had previously been working with James at the Chats. Barry is a fully qualified Goalkeeping coach who has worked at a number of clubs including Pheonix Sports and Dartford. Barry works with all of the senior goalkeepers at first team and reserve team level and is a valuable asset to the management team. Barry has a wealth of experience having coached many goalkeepers in the Kent area and provides intensive one to one tuition.

Phil Jeffs: Phil is a fully qualified chartered physiotherapist who works for at Maidstone Hospital as a A&E Musculoskeletal Practitioner and Extended Scope Physiotherapist. Phil teamed up with the management team at Oakwood in 2007 and to provide physio and rehabilitation treatment to the first and senior teams as well as the youth sides. Phil played a key part at Oakwood in getting players back on the pitch and is always looking to introduce new ideas to the fitness and injury prevention programmes for each player.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net