Martin departs the Rams

Ramsgate have announced the departure of manager Lee Martin, whose last match in charge was Wednesday evening's Velocity Cup Final defeat.

A club statement explains:

When Lee Martin came into the club, we were in a difficult position and facing the real possibility of relegation. His remit was simple - to keep us in the league. Lee achieved that. Results improved quickly and, at one stage, we even found ourselves looking towards the play-off places, which is a credit to the work done during that period. However, a challenging recruitment period leading into March meant that, over the final six weeks of the season, the playing budget was significantly underspent. That period has been reflected in our recent run of results, with six defeats from our last seven games, including this week’s cup final. 

This decision reflects the direction we want to take as a club, not any one result. As a club, our culture has always been about looking forwards. It’s a mindset that has taken us from the brink of Step 5 to competing at Step 3, and now to a position where we are able to look towards Step 2. As planned, Seb Tidey will step down from his role on the committee at the end of the season. A significant part of Seb’s work with the club has been contributing to the development of a new strategic document, which sets out a very specific plan for the footballing side of the club. To give ourselves the best possible chance of success on the pitch, we believe it is important to explore the market and identify the right manager to deliver that plan. 

We would like to place on record our thanks to Lee for the job he has done. He came in at a difficult time, helped realign our objectives, and ensured the club moves forward from a stable position. Seb Tidey, Tom Hadler and Mark Buckingham will take charge of the remaining two games of the season. 

Lee took the top job at the Rams in November. He departs with them in tenth place. 

He started this season as manager of Welling United, but departed Wings in early October. He was with the Rams as a player for the previous two campaigns, making thirty two appearances last season as they took the Pitching In Isthmian South East title, and forty six times as they finished second and reached the FA Cup Second Round during 23-24. 

Earlier in his career he played youth football for AFC Wimbledon and Manchester United, before graduating to the first team squad at the latter. Whilst at Old Trafford he had loan spells at Royal Antwerp, Glasgow Rangers, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest, before putting down some rather more permanent roots at Ipswich Town, under manager Roy Keane. He spent four years as a Tractor Boy (although there was also a short loan spell at Charlton Athletic), before making Millwall his next stop, for three years. Spells at Gillingham, where he was captain, and Exeter City came next, before a move to Ebsfleet United. He then played for Dover Athletic in National League South.