The chance to work back in the Football League was one Scott Lindsey had to take, says Chatham Town chairman Kevin Hake

SCOTT LINDSEY has dropped a bombshell by leaving Chatham Town just 10 days before the start of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign gets underway.
 

The 49-year-old replaced James Collins in October 2019 and stamped his authority on the club with an exciting brand of passing football and turned the club into serious title contenders, backed with the largest budget in the division.

However, the 2019-20 campaign was declared null and void and the 2020-21 campaign was curtailed due to the current coronavirus health pandemic and the club were denied promotion to the Isthmian League through points-per-game (across two seasons) as Corinthian went up instead despite Chatham Town sitting at the top of the table at the time.

Director of football Carl Laraman and chairman Kevin Hake will take interim charge of team affairs as the club begin the search for a suitable person to take charge at Maidstone Road.

Lindsey, formerlly at Forest Green Rovers, has been appointed assistant manager to newly-appointed manager Ben Garner at EFL League Two side Swindon Town, whom have also appointed former Bromley defender Ben Chorley, 38, as their new director of football.

“It is with a heavy heart I can confirm the departure of Scott Lindsey as first-team manager of Chatham Town with immediate effect,” said Hake in a statement.

“Scott has been brilliant at the club since he joined and leaves us in a lot stronger position than when we he came.

“I think it says a lot about the club and him as a person that he was offered other non-league jobs but turned them down, but the chance to work back in the Football League was one he had to take.

“I would personally like to wish Scott all the best in the future and he will always receive a good welcome back at the Chats.

“Carl Laraman and myself will be working together as interim managers until a suitable person is found.”

On hearing the news on Lindsey's departure, captain and midfielder Jack Evans said: "Scott's back where he belongs, after a very tough few years for him.

"On behalf of me and the boys, I'd like to thank the gaffer for everything.  On a personal note he made me full back in love with football and we were all very lucky to have him in the first place.  I'm feeling gutted but it's only right."

Chatham Town kick-off their league campaign with a trip to Deal Town on Saturday 31 July 2021.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.com