If the club share my ambition and views then I think we could go places together, says Liam Smith, as dad Dave steps down at the end of the season

LYDD TOWN manager Dave Smith says he is stepping down as their manager at the end of the season – and wants his son to take over at the helm.

The Lydders are in sixth-place in the Pain & Glory Sports Kent Invicta League table, having won 17, drawn three and lost nine of their league games.  They are 19 points adrift of leaders Bearsted, who are battling it out with Sheppey United, Glebe and Sutton Athletic for the two promotion places.

Smith, 55, sent in his statement at 06:08 on the first day of April, insisting “it’s a real statement,” and not an April Fools joke.

“As we hit April, we have nine games left to cram in, we’re sixth in the league at the moment after some recent poor results, but in truth I feel we have done well to be where we are as this has been certainly my hardest in management,” said Smith.

“I have found the lack of commitment from certain players that are keen to sign very poor, available one week, of doing something next week and so on.  I do have a good committed core of players who are excellent to work with and can be relied on 100% and I thank them for this.

“With the nine games we have left I feel if we can finish in the top five. I will be pleased, certainly not my aim at the start of the season, but encountering so many player issues along the way we have never really been serious title challengers so as they say we will finish where we do as the league table does not lie.

“I will also state that this is my last season in management and will be stepping down after our last game of the season.

“I have been at Lydd nearly four seasons this time and feel it is time for a new approach and new faces.

“My own work now demands a lot more of my time and I think my wife would quite like to see me at the weekends.

“The ground development second phase is now well under way and the fencing and stands will be completed ready for next season so the incoming management team will have a tremendous base to work from and a club that is certainly capable of moving forward.

“I have enjoyed my time in the Invicta League and it is good the way it is helping clubs like Lydd to progress.

Smith would like his 28-year-old son Liam, who is part of his current management team, to take over the reins next season.

“I want him to take over, so he will be having talks with the club regarding this,” he said.

“Yes, I agree, it would be a good move but there are some issues that need resolving at the club first, I don’t want to publish them, as that’s not my way.”

Liam Smith says he wants to step into his father’s footsteps.

“I really enjoyed my time as interim manager when my dad was banned,” he said.

“I am definitely interested in the job.  I am keen to move up in the non-league ladder.

“Lydd are a self-funded club as in no wage budget like others and are a true credit to the Kent Invicta League how far they have come in such a short space of time.

“If the club share my ambition and views then I think we could go places together.

“My dad has been a great servant to Lydd and it will be a tough act to follow whoever takes over.”

Lydd Town host third-placed Glebe in the Pain & Glory Sports Kent Invicta League this afternoon (3:00pm).

Visit Lydd Town’s website: www.lyddtownfc.co.uk