Kevin Watson steps down as Cray Valley boss: I’d like to think that my story in football is not finished and that I will return to management at some point

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) have confirmed the departure of first-team manager Kevin Watson today despite the club sitting in fifth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table.

The Eltham-based club are in fifth-place in the table with 20 points from 13 games (five wins and five draws and three defeats) and have confirmed that Tommy Osborne and Paul Lorraine are staying at Middle Park Avenue and will be in charge of the team for Saturday’s trip to Chichester City.

“A sad day but Kevin leaves with our best wishes and he will always be welcome at the club,” said a club statement.

“We are incredibly grateful to Kevin for the wonderful journey that the club has been on since he took on the role in August 2017.

“The club remains in good hands with Tommy Osborne and Paul Lorraine taking on the first-team responsibilities and they will be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Chichester.”

Watson said he left his post as first-team manager on Tuesday night, following their 5-0 home win over bottom-of-the-table side Faversham Town.

“I’m conscious that speculation is a natural by product of change," said Watson.

“I feel it important to clarify that my decision was not as a result of an isolated incident or any bad feeling towards anyone.

“The reaction of all associated with the club has reconfirmed what I already felt I knew, which is that those I was working with are truly great individuals with further strength as a collective group.

“For me personally there is no better success than when you are involved in creating a high performing climate that you feel can continue in the absence of your presence.

“If I reflect on the role we’ve played as a management team, we’ve just worked incredibly hard to bring great people together who all hold similar values and then help them recognise that common ground and use it to improve performance.

“Now I’ve stepped aside, I look forward to watching people grow even further.

“I’d like to think that my story in football is not finished and that I will return to management at some point.  I’m leaving no timeline on that but if it didn’t, the chapters in this Cray Valley period will be a good enough read in themselves.

“Cray Valley is an incredible club which will always be dear to my heart.  In my tenure I have learnt an incredible amount about myself, others and football.

“The committee and stakeholders have been nothing but supportive in my time at the club and for that I would like to thank you all.

“The players both past and present have been a pleasure to work with and have taught me more than I have them.  I remain available to them all should they ever feel I can help them in any aspect of life.

“My biggest appreciation must lie with members of the management team for which I’ve worked as they have been closest in this journey.  To Craig Gibson, Kevin James and Courtney Dobson – true champions.  To Jamie Day, Paul Lorraine, Tony Kessell and Tenny Adebowale – true gentlemen.  And lastly to Tom Osborne, I’m forever in-dept to you for your support, the true cornerstone of the operation.”

Watson guided the club to the London Senior Trophy Final but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Balham on Wednesday 9 May 2018 – after finishing in sixth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table in Watson’s first season in charge after replacing James Collins.

The club then claimed the league title with a 2-0 win at Canterbury City and lost 3-1 after extra time to Chertsey Town in The FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 19 May 2019.

Watson guided Cray Valley to The FA Cup First Round for the very first time in 2020, losing 1-0 at National League South side Havant & Waterlooville, having turned over National League side Maidenhead United 3-2 at York Road in the final qualifying round.

Watson guided the club to a fifth-place finish in the eighth-tier of English football last season, losing 1-0 at Ashford United in the play-off semi-finals.

Herne Bay then beat Tommy Warrilow's side 2-0 in the play-off final at the end of last season but Ben Smith has since stepped down from the role and interim manager Michael West insisted recently that he doesn't want the job and urges chairman Stuart Fitchie to appoint a permanent manager.

But having won 128 of his 227 games in charge of the club, Watson has announced his shock departure from SE9.

Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.crayvalleypmfc.com