Cosgrove to go it alone

By David Watters

Erith & Belvedere

Erith & Belvedere have confirmed that manager Chris Cosgrove has taken sole charge of the Ryman North club following the departure of joint manager Martin Ford.

Cosgrove, pictured, and Ford jointly took the helm at Park View Road in June but parted company on Monday when former Fisher coach Ford was sacked. His son, first team coach Joe Ford who arrived at the club soon after his father's appointment, resigned later that day.

The Deres say coaches Martin Barnard, Darren Mace and physio Emily Richards will continue in their current roles and that further additions to their backroom team could be announced in the coming days.

Former Greenwich Borough manager Cosgrove has a chance to bed in any new arrivals and reorganise after Ford's dismissal as the Deres do not play again until next Wednesday night when they host Corinthian Casuals in the London Cup.

Both Martin Ford and Joe Ford were thanked by the club for their work after their double departure this week.

An Erith & Belvedere spokesman said: "They have both put in a fantastic effort and built the club up, bringing in players and a strong backroom staff that has allowed the Deres to become an established outfit in the first third of its first ever season in the Ryman League. The effort that both put into the club cannot be faulted, and the club have wished them both the very best for all their future endeavours."

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