We'll keep a tight ship at Sittingbourne, says joint-boss Jim Ward

SITTINGBOURNE joint-manager Jim Ward says he has made a major signing by bringing Simon Pettit with him from Ramsgate.



Ward, 60, has appointed the long-throw specialist as the club’s new captain and also revealed he should be unveiling a double signing next Monday.

Pettit has previously appeared for the English University side and had a couple of spells at Maidstone United, but has spent most of his career at Ramsgate.

The 29-year-old made 32 appearances for the Rams last season, scoring 3 goals.

“It’s beginning to come together at Sittingbourne,” said Ward.

“Me and Danny (Ward) have really been beavering away behind the scenes to try to improve on what they had last year.

“Simon Pettit’s a major signing. He’s great in the changing room, a good player.  He likes to pass the ball.  He’s got a dangerous long throw on him and every now and then he gets a goal.

“He’s scored a lot of goals for me over the years, so he’ll be my skipper next year.”

Ward revealed his next two summer signings will NOT be from his previous club Ramsgate.

Looking ahead to his new job at Bourne Park, Ward added: “Well, I’ve got to tell you what an honest club Sittingbourne is. The chairman (Andy Spice), the Pitts brothers (John and Peter), the whole committee, they just want to succeed, so Danny’s been given the joint-manager with me. 

“He’s won things with me all the time at Maidstone and Ramsgate.  I’ve missed him over the last two or three years. 

“People keep saying I was the most successful manager at Ramsgate.  Danny was my right hand man. That’s why we’ve gone in as joint-managers.

“He deserves a lot more of the credit.  When he left Ramsgate he wasn’t happy with the situation at Ramsgate, that’s why he left, but I carried on.  In a way maybe I was wrong.

“We’ll move forward with Sittingbourne. It’s really exciting.  The budget is what it is and of course there’s similar Kent club’s fighting for the same players.  It’s (Kent) not what you call a hot-bed of football.”

Sittingbourne endured a miserable campaign last term, finishing third-from-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South table.

Ward said: “I’ve got enough money to be better than what they were last year.  That’s what I’ve got.  We’ll spend it as soon as I can.  The good thing is all the lads’ who were there last year want to stay.

“I want to sign three or four senior players.  We’ve got no reserves so sixteen (players) is not enough but we’ll use the Academy players every now and then and they’ll come on the bench every now and then to give them experience, which will be good for us and them.

“We’ll keep a tight ship.  I can’t afford to run with more than sixteen.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk