VCD part company with Russell and number two

By David Watters

VCD Athletic

VCD Athletic expect to make a further statement on their vacant managerial position in the near future after announcing that the club had parted company with Tony Russell on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Ryman Premier's Vickers issued a short statement on their official website confirming that Russell and his number two Ray Powell had both left Oakside following a meeting with chairman Gary Rump.

During his 19 months at the helm, former Erith Town manager Russell took the club from the Kent League to winning the Ryman North championship and then a successive promotion into the Ryman League's top flight, the highest level in the club's 99 year history.

His departure comes just a week after Athletic's sixth win on the spin on the final day of the season, a 2-0 victory over over Billericay Town, secured an 18th placed finish and another season of Ryman Premier football.

Russell, pictured collecting last season's Ryman North manager of the season accolade from Ryman League chairman Alan Turvey and Theo Paphitis, chairman of title sponsors the Ryman Group, kicked off his playing career as a youth at West Ham United before moving on to Reading.

He entered Non-League with a spell at Cray Wanderers and became a player-coach at Thamesmead Town before taking his first steps into management at Erith Town and from there joining the Vickers in 2012.

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe