Tunbridge Wells part company with Jason Bourne

TUNBRIDGE WELLS begin the search for a new manager after parting company with club stalwart Jason Bourne on Monday.

The Wells completed their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign in sixteenth-place (bottom five), having collected 37 points from their 38 league games.

The Culverden Stadium outfit met with Bourne and his assistant manager Andy Boyle on Monday and it has been decided that the pair will step down from their roles at their home-town club.

“Tunbridge Wells Football Club would like to thank both Jason and Andy for their unstinting efforts and to put on the record that their commitment to the club both as players and as manager/assistant manager is without question,” said a club statement, which was released today.

“As such, the board of directors are in discussions with both as to how their services can be retained in another capacity for the benefit of the club.”

Defender Bourne was captain of the club when Martin Larkin guided them to The FA Vase Final in May 2013, when they lost 2-1 to Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium.

“Thank you for the opportunity that was given us to manage our home-town team,” Bourne and Boyle said in a joint leaving statement. 

“Not many people get the chance to play and manage their club and the friends we have made along the way are friends for life.

“We fully appreciate that results were not as we would have liked but this was not down to lack of commitment or hard work.

“We respect the clubs decision to take a new direction and wish them all the best moving forward.

“A big thank you to all the members of coaching staff and volunteers that have given up their time with maximum effort for us along the way.”

Bourne took charge of 183 games and won 59 of them, drew 33 and lost 91.  His winning percentage while in charge of the club was 33%.

Meanwhile, the process to appoint a new management team will now take place and the board of directors invite applications from interested parties.

CVs can be submitted to chairman@twfcexec.com

Meanwhile, Canterbury City appointed former Hythe Town boss Clive Cook as their new manager yesterday.

The club controversially sacked Ben Smith in April, following comments he made to a local newspaper.

A miss-spelt brief club statement said: “We are deleted to welcome former Hythe manager Clive Cook as our new first team manager.”

Canterbury City finished in the top nine and reached The Buildbase FA Vase Semi-Finals but were knocked out 2-1 on aggregate by Cray Valley (Paper Mills), who lock horns with Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division champions Chertsey Town at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 19 May (12:15).