We believe Jamie Day is the right man to bring success to Ebbsfleet United, says Peter Varney

Wednesday 10th December 2014

EBBSFLEET UNITED have unveiled Jamie Day as their new manager.

Day, 35, took charge of Welling United for the last time last night, winning 2-1 away to basement side AFC Telford United.

The Wings are in seventeenth-place in the Vanarama Conference table with seven wins, eight draws and ten defeats and are nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Day takes over the reigns from the club’s Academy manager/club captain Daryl McMahon, who oversaw two wins over Hendon (FA Trophy) and Maidenhead United after the club parted company with boss Steve Brown on 26 November.

Ironically, the two Kent clubs lock horns at Stonebridge Road in The FA Trophy First Round on Saturday.

Ebbsfleet United lie in fourth-place in the Vanarama Conference South table, after picking up nine wins, five draws and five defeats. They are seven points adrift of league leaders Boreham Wood.

Ebbsfleet United’s vice-chairman Peter Varney issued the following statement on their club website.

“The owner and the board opted not to advertise the role as having considered the potential candidates, they were unanimous that Jamie Day was the only candidate they wished to initially discuss the vacancy with,” said Mr Varney.

“The discussions with Welling United have been amicable and we have reached a compensation package acceptable to both clubs and I would like to thank the board of Welling United for the professional manner in which they have conducted the negotiations.

“Jamie has done an absolutely brilliant job at Welling over the past five years and we believe he is the right man to bring success to the club.

“He will have the full backing of the owner to do just that. It is ironic that his first game this weekend will be a home tie with Welling in the FA Trophy. Jamie will, however, watch from the stand and let Daryl McMahon take charge of the team on the day.

“I cannot speak highly enough of Daryl. After the departure of Steve Brown, we offered Daryl the role of caretaker manager and he could easily have hidden behind the fact he is a player and not put himself in a position where he had to manage his teammates or – worse – make decisions that may upset them. He didn’t do that. He stepped up to the plate and made the decisions he thought were right for the team and the club.

"The fact he put himself in the position he did is a real measure of the man and don’t forget he also that he took on all of this extra responsibility whilst coping with the birth of his first child.”

Day’s management team at Park View Road, Barry Ashby and Dean Frost have also made the switch to Stonebridge Road.

A statement from Welling United said: “It is with regret that the club has to announce the departure of Jamie Day and his assistants Barry Ashby and Dean Frost with immediate effect.

“All three have chosen to accept offers of employment at Ebbsfleet United, following both clubs agreeing acceptable terms of compensation.

“No supporter will need reminding of the on the field success they have brought to Welling United over the last five years, where we have narrowly missed out on a play-off place; followed this with a play-off final appearance and then subsequently the Conference South title.

“Having made the step up to the top tier of non-league football, we think everyone would be in agreement with how well the team acquitted itself last season and combined this with an appearance in the second round of the FA Cup.

“Added to this a style of football has been played that has been excellent to watch and yet again Welling United has seen players progress from our starting eleven to Football League clubs. Accordingly it is only right that we place on record our appreciation to Jamie and his team for their services over this time.

“We are of course disappointed that Jamie and his assistants have decided to join Ebbsfleet United but we wish to reassure supporters that the Board did all they could to persuade them to stay; once it became apparent that was not possible, and with all three being out of contract by at least the summer, it was imperative that we secured the best deal we could in the circumstances.

“Coincidentally our next game is against Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy although it has been agreed as part of the compensation deal that Jamie will not take his new side for that game and will watch from the stands.

“The club can confirm that it will shortly be making an announcement in respect of a caretaker appointment whilst we seek a permanent replacement for Jamie and his team.”

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Welling United’s webstie: www.wellingunited.com