We're finding it very difficult at the moment, admits Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE chairman Paul Jefcoate says the club are looking for fresh investment.



The Rams have played only three home games since the turn of the year and are struggling financially after the country’s wettest winter for 250 years.

“Having been in the hot-seat for a while now, the picture is fairly clear on where we stand financially,” said Mr Jefcoate in a statement posted on the club’s official website
www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk.

“It is clearly evident that we have a number of supporters that are always there for the club but unfortunately that is not enough.

“We have ambition to get out of the current division, however, this comes at a price which, given the current circumstances and events, is not affordable.

“I know that there are those that are digging into their pockets as deeply as they can.  We now need to reach out to those that are unaware of our situation and could possibly help.

“If you are that person (or company) or you can introduce us to them please let me know as soon as possible.”

The club are in tenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 44 points from 31 games, nine points adrift of fifth-placed Folkestone Invicta.

The Rams went down to a 3-1 defeat away to struggling Corinthian-Casuals on Tuesday night.

They welcome Tooting & Mitcham United to Southwood Stadium tomorrow, a side that are immediately below them in the table on 40 points from 32 games.

Manager Tim Dixon will return to the dug-out after serving his two-match touchline ban, which saw him pick up a £100 fine.

“They’re not doing too bad, again they’re a very good side,” said Dixon.

“We’re going to certainly be better than we were on Tuesday night if we’re going to get anything from that game.

“But it’s a home game. We haven’t played at home for a little while so it will be nice to get back to Southwood and try to get three points.”

Nine of their last fifteen league games are against teams in the bottom half of the table, although Dixon admits grabbing a play-off place looks distant at this moment in time.

“I’d rather play the teams in the top half of the table,” admitted Dixon.

“We’ve beaten Guernsey twice, beaten Hastings, beaten Folkestone. We had a close game against Leatherhead and Walton Casuals.

“It’s the teams at the bottom we seem to let ourselves down against like we did against Corinthian-Casuals.

“You’ve got to apply yourselves right for the game and approach the game in the right frame of mind and try and beat the other team in front of you whether they’re bottom-of-the-table or top-of-the-table. It doesn’t really matter in this league.”

Ramsgate’s financial struggles came to light today when first team coach Steve Nolan left the club last night.

“I leave the club with regrets as they have a good manager in Tim Dixon and assistant Darren Beale, who are both so hard working and a great group of players, who have all been fantastic to work with,” said Nolan.

“I must now consider a couple of options for this and next season.”

Previous chairman Richard Lawson stepped down from the role in August after 25 years at the helm.

Dixon said: “Sponsorship is something that we’ve been lacking all season really and it’s important to the football club.

“It has an effect on what sort of team you can get out on a Saturday and a Tuesday.

“It’s come to a stage now, like a lot of teams, with the lost revenue with the weather. It’s not just us, it’s hard for teams like us to survive. We’re finding it very difficult at the moment.

“We’ve had to pull in the purse strings a little bit and that might have an effect between now and the end of the season but we have to forget about that and get on with the football side of things if we can.”

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Ramsgate  v  Tooting & Mitcham United
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 22^nd February 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN