Whitstable Town appoint Andy Drury after parting company with Keith McMahon after eight wins from his 29 games in charge

WHITSTABLE TOWN have appointed Andy Drury as their new manager tonight shortly after parting company with Keith McMahon and his assistant Stephen Wait.


 

The club are rooted to the foot of the Isthmian League South East Division table, having collected 23 points with seven games to remaining.

The Oystermen suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Hythe Town at Belmont Road at the weekend, which extended their winless run to 10 league games and put in a poor performance against a fellow struggling side at the weekend.

“The directors of Whitstable Town have today regretfully decided to part company with first-team manager Keith McMahon, as the team sit bottom of the Isthmian League South East Division with seven games remaining,” said a club statement.

“Keith was appointed at the beginning of October after a difficult start to the season and following the sudden resignation of Lloyd Blackman.

“His experience and successful times at Thamesmead and VCD Athletic, together with a good record of bringing through young players, pointed to Keith being the right choice to take the club forward.

“Nobody could have worked harder to integrate themselves with all aspects of the club and attempt to turn fortunes around on the pitch.

“Despite a number of disappointing performances, the club was determined to give Keith sufficient time and resources to make a difference.

“Unfortunately, there have been few signs of any improvement and with just a single win since Christmas and eight defeats in the last nine games, the club has taken the difficult decision to make a change.

“We would like to thank Keith and his assistant Stephen Wait for all of their hard work and wish them well for the future.”

Whitstable’s last victory came on Monday 3 January, winning 2-1 at Faversham Town and the club confirmed that Drury, 38, has left Isthmian League Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta, where he made 14 appearances for Neil Cugley’s side, to take charge of relegation threatened Whitstable Town in the level below.

McMahon won only eight of his 29 games in charge of the club, losing 17 and admitted he was suffering sleepless nights with relegation into the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division looming.

The club have collected six wins and five draws from their 31 league games, under Lloyd Blackman and McMahon.

Drury takes his new club to fifth-placed side Haywards Heath Town on Saturday and has to hit the ground running to prevent a second relegation from the Isthmian League in six years.

“I’m delighted to be appointed manager of Whitstable Town FC,” said Drury in a statement.

“It is a great club with great fans.  I have watched a few games this season and know there are some good players at the club, so I look forward to working with them.

“The next few weeks will be tough, so we need everyone to stick together as we try to turn things around.

“Please get behind us and I will do my best to bring some success to the club.”

Whitstable Town and Phoenix Sports (26 points from 32 games) are inside the relegation zone, while Sevenoaks Town (30 points from 32 games) are in the points-per-game zone.

Drury, who was Danny Kedwell's player-assistant manager at Cray Wanderers earlier on in the season before their departure on 28 December, has until 17:00 on Thursday, 24 March to sign new players', because that is when the Isthmian League transfer window shuts.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.club