Steve King leaves Welling United: I’ve had a great time at the football club and we very nearly pulled off the unthinkable

WELLING UNITED have agreed to part company with their manager Steve King today.

King guided the club to a third-placed finish in the Vanarama National League South last season and after beating Chelmsford City 3-2 in the play-off semi-finals, went down to a 1-0 defeat at Woking in the Promotion Final, courtesy of a sublime free-kick from Armani Little.

The Wings also won the London Senior Cup after beating Brentford 1-0 at Wingate & Finchley on 9 April.

Eastbourne-based King was halfway through a two-year contract at Park View Road.

Welling United chairman Mark Goldberg told www.wellingunited.com: “On behalf of the board, our staff, players and all Wings fans I would like to place on record our thanks to Steve on a fantastic season which saw us win the London Senior Cup for the first time in 29 years and the team just 90 minutes away from achieving promotion to the Vanarama National League.

“Steve leaves with the best wishes of all of us at Welling United and he will always be warmly welcomed at Park View Road.”

King added: “I am incredibly proud of what we and players achieved last season but now is the right time for myself and the club to take a different path.

“I’ve had a great time at the football club and we very nearly pulled off the unthinkable.

“I wish the club every success in the future especially the fans who were fantastic with me from day one”.

Welling United said they will “confirm managerial and coaching appointments for the new season in due course.”

Welling United picked up 76 points from their 42 league outings, but second-placed finishers Woking (78 points) will join champions Torquay United (88) in the Vanarama National League next season.

The Wings have also lost the services of left-back Craig Braham-Barrett, who has signed for their National League South rivals Hemel Hempstead Town, who are now managed by former Concord Rangers boss Sammy Moore.

Welling United have previously lost two wingers in Brendan Kiernan, who signed for National League side Harrogate Town and Frenchman Nassim L’Ghoul, who has yet found himself a new club.

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com