Margate part ways with Andy Drury after 11 wins from his 27 games in charge at Hartsdown Park

MARGATE have issued a 35-word statement after parting company with manager Andy Drury after a home defeat on Boxing Day.

The club suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Neil Smith’s Cray Wanderers at Hartsdown Park this afternoon.

The Wands climbed up to third-place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table with 39 points from their 23 games, while Margate are languishing in sixteenth-place with 23 points from 20 games.

Margate are seven points clear of the relegation zone, which contains James Collins’ Bowers & Pitsea (16 points from 20 games), Corinthian-Casuals (15 points from 20), Kevin Watson’s Herne Bay (11 points from 20) and Brightlingsea Regent (11 points from 20).

“Margate Football Club have today parted ways with first team manager Andy Drury,” said the brief club statement.

“The club has placed Reece Prestedge and Ben Greenhalgh in interim charge.

“The club will make no further comment at this stage.”

Drury, 39, was in charge of Margate on 27 occasions in league and cup and the side won 11 and lost 11 and they extended their winless run to four games after Smith’s men won on the Kent coast today.

Coach Prestedge and 10-goal attacker Greenhalgh, 30, now prepare the side for a trip to thirteenth-placed Folkestone Invicta on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 January 2023 (15:00).

Jointly-managed by Roland Edge and Micheal Everitt, Invicta came away from Herne Bay with a 2-1 win today in their 15 game in joint-charge since taking over from the legendary Neil Cugley at Cheriton Road.