We're basically starting again, admits Vickers boss Bennett

Saturday 19th June 2010

NEWLY appointed VCD Athletic manager Ricky Bennett says he is constantly on the telephone as he builds a completely new squad for the season ahead, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Crayford based club lost their appeal against relegation from the Ryman League last week and were accepted back into the Kent League at the Annual General Meeting at Lordswood Sports & Social Club a couple of nights ago.

Previous manager Paul Foley quit the club to take charge of Ryman League side Chatham Town, after guiding Vickers to 8th place in their one and only Ryman League Division One North campaign.

Foley has taken most of last season’s squad with him to Chatham, leaving last season’s reserve team manager Bennett to pick up the pieces.

“Disappointing for the club really after all what’s all gone on to get us into the Ryman level over the last few seasons, the amount of money that’s gone in to the club,” Bennett told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I feel really sorry for Gary (Rump, the club’s chairman) and everyone in the club. It’s a massive disappointment but there you go, we have to take it on the chin. We’re a Kent League club again for now and we look to move on.”

Bennett, 40, a builder who resides in neighbouring Bexley, is, along with his assistant manager Andy Silk (who turned down a move to Chatham through work commitments), constantly on the phone as he rebuilds his squad.

He said: “At the moment there’s two or three lads from last year’s (first-team) squad who are staying hopefully - Jack Bradshaw, Tom Bradshaw, Reece Walsh, and that’s about it.

“Obviously things may change but I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that all the other lads are following Foes (Paul Foley) to Chatham, so we’re basically starting again.

“We’ve got a good set of young lads here already from my 21-man (reserve team) squad last season and some of them could make the step-up and some may take longer. There’s massive potential there for them.

“We need experience lads who have been there (in the Kent Premier division) and done it and played at that level and Ryman level.

“We won’t be able to survive with just all my reserve lads from last year. Me and Silky (Andy Silk) are non-stop on the phone. We’ve got lots of contacts in football circles and we’re talking to lots of players and do hope they like what we’ve got to offer them.

“It’s a good club to play for with a fantastic ground and we’re confident we’ll have a decent side.”

The club confirmed that they slashed the playing budget by 55% last February to ensure that ground improvements could be made at Oakwood.

Bennett said: “We’ve had a brief discussion, we’ve got a meeting, I believe, to formally decide what the budget is for this coming season. I have an idea but it won’t be like what it was last season. That’s to be confirmed.

He added: “We’re not going there to make the numbers up but we’re going to give it our best shot.

“We want to try and do the best we can and get back to Ryman football but that all depends on what side me and Silky can put together.”