Ward close to finalising his squad - EXCLUSIVE

Ward has added to his squad by bringing Sittingbourne captain Joe Dowley, 25, to Southwood Stadium and he also signed Liam Morris, 23, tonight to take squad numbers for next season to twenty.

“Well, we’ve signed a lot of potential as you know,” Ward said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“Joe Dowley is a bit more than that. He’s 25-years-old, played in the Ryman League for five years, he’s been lucky enough to be player-of-the-year at Sittingbourne for the last two years.

“I was looking for an attacking left-back. I’ve got a system that I want to play next year and he fit’s the bill.”

Ward added central defender Morris to his squad tonight, taking numbers to 20 for next season.

“He packed the game up 12 months ago to go back to work, he’s a surveyor and he’ll come back to me,” said Ward.

“I haven’t signed a bad player, I’ve got to tell you, me and Danny (Ward) are really excited about next season.”

Ward, however, is happy with his squad, and said: “That will do me now, we’re done now. The chairman’s nicked the cheque book from me - I’ve got whatever I’ve asked for.”

When asked about his budget for next season, Ward replied: “Same budget. We’ve sat down and talked about it and decided which way we’re going to go and I feel we can give it a real good crack.

“I just hope I can repay him (Lawson) with a good run in the FA Cup. If we get a good run in the FA Cup he’ll get his money back.

“It’s only him putting the money in, there’s a few people who do put in, but he puts in the majority.”

Despite their play-off agony, losing in the semi-finals at a sodden Staines Town, Ward wants to give promotion a real good go next term.

“It’s the target,” he said. “You’re only judged on your league.

“I’ll be interested to speak to John Maggs at Horsham. They had a good Cup run and it took a shine of their league places.

“I know there’s other factors but you get all the glory and then after Christmas it’s finished, but I want to be in as many competitions as we can after Christmas.”

Ramsgate return to pre-season training at Southwood Stadium on Saturday, 28^th June at 12 o’clock, and Ward added: “Everybody’s welcome, anybody who thinks their good enough to play in the Ryman Premier League.”

Ward, meanwhile, would like to fill up some blank dates for pre-season friendlies, including Saturday, 26^th July and Saturday, 2^nd August.

He added: “I’ve been let down by a couple and I’ve got a few dates available. I’ve also got some midweek dates so if anyone would like to get in touch with me or the secretary.”

The Ramsgate squad for next season is: Shaun Alliston, Ben Brown, Ashley Burton, Nick Davis, Jack Delo, Dan Dolton, Joe Dowley, Aaron Firth, Andy Hadden, Brett Kinch, Stuart King, Ben Laslett, Steven Lloyd, Lee Minshull, Liam Morris, Simon Pettit, Warren Schulz, Mo Takaloo, Dan Tanner and Stuart Vahid.

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk