I'm delighted to be back as manager at Sittingbourne, says Nick Davis

Davis was joint-manager last season with Matt Wyatt before leaving to play for Southern Counties East Football League side Tunbridge Wells after the Brickies decided to go it alone with Wyatt in sole charge.

Wyatt resigned as Sittingbourne’s manager after the club’s League Cup exit to Faversham Town on 7 October 2014.  The club were sitting in fourth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table at the time having won eight, drawn two and lost four times in the league.

Barry Crimmen – Wyatt’s assistant – took temporary charge but the club slipped down to seventh-place in the table with 30 points from 19 games after losing four, drawing one and winning one of his games at the helm.

A club statement said: “Sittingbourne Football Club are pleased to announce that Nick Davis is to be their new manager.

“Nick was joint-manager last season with Matt Wyatt before leaving to play for Tunbridge Wells.  With us, however, Nick intends to concentrate on the managerial side.

“This was a difficult decision for the committee given the quality of many of those who applied amongst an unprecedented number of applicants.

“We have a history of giving a chance to new managers instead of those who have done the circuit.  In the past, managers such as Mark Beeney, Gary Abbott and Richard Brady all had their first opportunity of being a manager with Sittingbourne Football Club.

“Caretaker manager, Barry Crimmen, will stay at the club.”

Davis added: “Yes, I’m delighted to be back as manager at Sittingbourne, this time in sole charge.

“The club was huge in non-league circles not so long ago and now I have the opportunity to first stabilise, then help move the club forward.”

Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Larkin revealed Davis will play for him in their Southern Counties East Football League game away to Greenwich Borough tonight.

“It is with mixed emotions that we can confirm that Nick will be leaving us,” Larkin told www.tunbridgewellsfc.com.

“Nick has been great for us since joining and although he committed for the full year the two of us always knew that if Sittingbourne came back in for him then it would be tough to turn down as he has a point to prove after how he left in the summer.

“Nick will be playing for us tonight and will be available for the FA Vase games still if we need him.

“I’d like to thank him for his help and performances so far this year.  The timing isn’t great after we lost George Benner (to Thamesmead Town) but we will work hard to replace and improve the side.”

Davis’ first game back in charge of Sittingbourne is on Saturday when they travel to Three Bridges.  The game will start earlier at 2pm.

Meanwhile, East Grinstead Town, who are in the bottom three in the Ryman League Division One South table, have appointed former Phoenix Sports boss Tony Beckingham as interim manager.

He replaces Simon Funnell, who took over in October 2011, and guided the club into the Ryman League after finishing runners-up in the Sussex County League, before leaving his position by mutual consent.

Beckingham, who was in charge of East Grinstead between February 2010-October 2011, has agreed to return to the club to take over as manager on an interim basis.

Chairman Richard Tramontin told www.egtfc.co.uk: “Tony knows the club well and we’re delighted he has agreed to come back.  He is very experienced, has a wealth of contacts at all levels of the game and will be looking to utilise these to try and keep the club in the Ryman League.  We’re fortunate to be able to call on someone of his experience and we wish him every success.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.com