We have lost faith in the club, says former boss Steve O'Boyle

STEVE O’BOYLE has explained the reasons behind his resignation as the joint-manager of Kent Invicta League club Erith & Dartford Town yesterday morning.


It appears to have been a traumatic first campaign for the Crayford based club as O’Boyle and his managerial partner, Tony Beckingham, join Michael Morgan, Darren Anslow and Gary Abbott through the managerial revolving door in the past six months.

Anslow is now the manager of Kent Hurlimann Football League side Sevenoaks Town, whilst Abbott, who was in charge when the league season began, is now on the coaching staff at Ryman Premier Leaguers Cray Wanderers, the last club that he played for at the end of a glittering playing career.

Erith & Dartford Town, who travel to Phoenix Sports tomorrow (2pm kick-off), lie in fifth-place in the table with a record of nine wins and two draws from seventeen league games.

They are eight points behind long-term leaders Bly Spartans with thirteen games left to play.

O’Boyle issued the following statement, saying, “It has been posted on the Kent League forum that I have been sacked as the manager of Erith & Dartford Town FC.  I would like to clarify that this is not the case and that I actually resigned yesterday morning.”

The former Erith Town boss added: “Tony and I have now been at the club for a few months and are still being promised the same things we were at the start but nothing has ever materialised.

“The players and management team have now come to the conclusion that nothing will ever happen and the players have lost faith in the club due to the fact that they have received so many false promises.

“I would like to thank the players that we brought to the club for their time and effort and really hope they get themselves involved in a decent club soon.

“We made this decision to resign, knowing that it is the right decision for the players also.  I have given Erith & Dartford Town 100% from day one, which now sees them in a good position in the table, but feel totally let down by the club.

“I have really enjoyed being back in management and hope to get involved in a club somewhere soon.”

Sam McNeil, the chairman’s son, who has been on the coaching staff all season, is expected to be in charge of tomorrow’s trip to third-placed Phoenix Sports.

Erith & Dartford Town and Phoenix Sports played the inaugural Kent Invicta League game when 300 people saw Phoenix win 4-0 back in August, courtesy of goals from Dominic Websdale (who scored the league’s first ever goal), Martin Driscoll, Adam Cuthbert and Alfie Harris.

Meanwhile, former Lewisham Borough head coach, Darrell Queeley, has teamed up with Kent Invicta League rivals Crockenhill, to help out on their coaching staff.