Soccer Shorts: Jamie Coyle and Jack Parkinson return to manage Welling United

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EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Daryl McMahon is preparing his side for tomorrow’s winner-takes-all clash against Chelmsford City.

Rod Stringer’s side came away from Dartford with a 2-1 aggregate win last weekend to set up tomorrow’s Vanarama National League South Promotion Final at Stonebridge Road.

The Fleet defeated seventh-placed finishers Hampton & Richmond Borough 4-2 on aggregate and after finishing runners-up in the League, Ebbsfleet have home advantage in the showdown, which is an ALL-TICKET SOLD OUT affair.

“After months of chasing the top spot, our destiny is now firmly in our hands and it comes down to one game to realise that,” McMahon told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

McMahon knows that Chelmsford City play with a direct, uninspiring brand of football and that the Kent side are favourites to break their play-off curse.

He said: “The players have gone out there and entertained. That has been the DNA of what I try to do, which is to play attacking football and score goals.”

WELLING UNITED have appointed two of their former players to manage the side in Vanarama National League South next season.

Chairman Mark Goldberg has appointed former Maidstone United defender Jamie Coyle as the club’s new player-manager, while Jack Parkinson also returns to the club in his role of player-coach.  Parkinson played for Dover Athletic in the Vanarama National League before helping Maidenhead United win the Vanarama National League South during his loan spell in Berkshire.

“Mark Goldberg said that he is delighted to have reached agreement with all concerned to form this management team, which he is confident contains the ability and experience to serve the club well over the forthcoming season,” said a club statement.

Coyle will continue his role as a coach/tutor at the Maidstone United Football Academy.

MAIDSTONE UNITED have confirmed that Reece Prestedge has put pen to paper on a deal for next season.

The central midfielder made 19 appearances for the club after joining on loan from their Vanarama National League rivals Bromley in January.

His partnership with fellow loanee Stuart Lewes was one of the reasons for the club’s change in fortunes, which saw a run of just two defeats in 15 matches as Jay Saunders’ men finished in 14^th place in the table after beating Ebbsfleet United on penalties in last May’s Promotion Final.

“I really enjoyed my time here and just wanted to try and sort something out as soon as I could,” Prestedge told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“Me and Stu clicked straight away when we came in on loan and it’s good to be able to continue that next season.

“I am looking forward to coming back and playing in front of the fans again. They’ve been brilliant ever since I arrived, the atmosphere’s good and they always get behind you no matter what.”

Saunders told the clubs website: “We’ve been speaking since the end of the season and I am delighted to get the deal done.  He was a big part of the run we went on to keep us in this League.

“I think there’s more to come from him as well as he hadn’t been playing regularly before coming to us and that’ll come with a good pre-season.”

Meanwhile, former Maidstone United Academy prospect Alfie Pavey, 21, has been released after four seasons at Millwall.  The striker has spent loan spells at both Bromley and Dartford this season.

DOVER ATHLETIC manager Chris Kinnear has announced his retained list as he looks to shape his squad for next season’s campaign.

The Whites finished in sixth-place in the Vanarama National League and new terms have been offered to Sam Magri, Ricky Modeste, Mitch Walker, Richard Orlu, Tyrone Sterling, Jamie Grimes, Aswad Thomas, Ross Lafayette and Bondz N’Gala.

Mitchell Pinnock has been retained by an option being exercised by the club, while Chris Barnard and George Essuman are both already under contract.

It is believed that all other players in the squad – which includes former Bromley striker Moses Emmanuel and Chris Kinnear Junior - may have been released.

MARGATE have signed left-back Tom Wynter, 26, from Dartford on a two-year contract.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA boss Neil Cugley says he is looking for a fresh look to his squad, after escaping relegation from the Ryman Premier League.

“We’ve signed Ade Yusuff a couple of weeks ago and majority of last season’s squad are now signed up again including Tim Roberts, Callum Davies, Nat Blanks, Josh Vincent and Ian Draycott, while Ashley Miller was already on a two year deal,” Cugley told www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

“We’re still waiting to find out about Ronnie Dolan’s ankle injury, but all in all I’m fairly happy with the situation.

“As you know, we’d offered Liam Friend the chance to become player-coach, which he turned down but I spoke the other day to a midfield who may be interested in joining us on that basis.

“I’ve also been talking to several other players and it could well be that we’ll have more new faces than our supporters have been used to by the time that we start the season in August.

“I’ve never been a great one for making major changes but with Friendy (who has signed for their Isthmian Premier League rivals Margate) and perhaps one or two others going, it’s a chance to give us something of a fresh-look for the coming season.

“We’ve got a sensible wage budget but Margate offered Liam much more than we could ever think about. We’re quite lucky that the players we get here come here because they like the club and the way we’re doing things and not just for the money.”

CRAY WANDERERS have confirmed that player-coach Paul Lorraine has left the club after one season.  However, striker Danny Haynes, who scored 29 goals during the season just finished, has signed a contract to remain at the Bromley based outfit.

Meanwhile, League One and League Two clubs have overwhelmingly supported proposals to allow the continued involvement of 16 invited sides in the Checkatrade Trophy next season.

At the outset of the Checkatrade Trophy trial last summer, the EFL committed to giving its clubs the opportunity to determine the competition’s future format and, following a period of consultation in April, League One and League Two club representatives met to share views.

During this meeting, clubs were presented with a review of the 2016-17 season before being asked to vote on three options:

1. Retaining the current format with amendments;

2. Reverting to a 48-team knock-out competition;

3. Abandoning the Checkatrade Trophy altogether.

66.6% of Clubs who voted did so for Option One and as a result, the format – with some key amendments - will be retained for seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19.

KEY FORMAT CHANGES include:

EFL team selection criteria amended to allow increased flexibility for League One and League Two clubs

An increase in the total competition fund to £3 million. Clubs will now receive a £20,000 participation fee. Prize money will be as follows:

Group Stage: £10,000 for a win and £5,000 for a draw;

Round Two: £20,000 for a win;

Round Three: £40,000 for a win;

Quarter Final: £50,000 for a win;

Runner-up: £50,000

Winner: £100,000

Each group will continue to contain one invited under 21 team with the remainder made up of EFL Clubs from either League One or League Two. Groups will be formed to minimise overall travel time for EFL Clubs and fans;

Invited under 21 teams will play all their Group games away from home;

Regionalisation until the Quarter-Final stage (improved from Round Two in 2016-17) to minimise overall travel time for clubs and fans;

Flexibility of fixture dates to allow teams to schedule games outside of international weeks;

As part of the proposals, the selection criteria for invited under 21 teams will remain as ‘six players from the starting 11 must be under the age of 21 as at 30 June 2017.’

There are three HEADLINE OBJECTIVES for the Checkatrade Trophy in seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19. They are:

Provide enhanced playing opportunities for young players of EFL and Category One clubs;

Enhance the profile of the competition;

Improve the revenue opportunities for EFL Clubs.

EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey has welcomed the support of the competition.

He said: “The history of the EFL Trophy is one of new ideas and innovation, but at its heart has always been the belief that this is an opportunity for League One and League Two clubs to taste cup success. I am therefore delighted to see the backing the Checkatrade Trophy has received from our clubs for the next two seasons, following a full and comprehensive review of this year’s pilot format.

“We wanted to ensure that League One and League Two clubs had the opportunity to make the key decisions regarding where we take the competition in 2017-18 and beyond and I believe we have reached a revised format that benefits all parties.

“EFL clubs will have greater flexibility with regard to team selection, while still maintaining the principle that this is a first team competition for our clubs that will support the development and progression of young players. The competition will also provide significant financial rewards for all EFL Clubs, which increases with success.”

The list of invited clubs will be announced in June with the group stage fixture draw in July.