Work commitments force Miles to step down as Chatham boss - EXCLUSIVE

Phil Miles stepped down as Chatham Town’s manager minutes after his side went down to a 3-0 defeat at Whitstable Town yesterday, citing work commitments, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Northfleet, has been forced to step down as he begin a new two-year job as a bricklayers lecturer at South Kent College in Ashford tomorrow and cannot devote 100% commitment to the Medway club.

Miles, who leaves the Maidstone Road outfit in the bottom five in the Ryman League Division One South table, having picked up four wins and five draws from their 17 league games, told his players of his decision immediately after their defeat at The Belmont.

But chairman Mr Jeff Talbot tried in vain to try to persuade his manager to stay and to think about it over night, but Miles confirmed his departure at 9 o’clock this morning.

Miles, who needed a back operation in September, which forced him to stop working as a bricklayer for a month, admitted EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning, that now is the time to go.

“If things were going well, I would have given it a bit longer,” he said. “But with my new job, I don’t have the time.”

Faversham born Miles, who joined Chatham Town as a player in 1999, was appointed first-team boss at Chatham Town at the start of last season, having graduated via reserve team boss and then as an assistant to first-team boss at the time, Steve Binks.

And Binks, player-assistant Steve Best, and coach Alan Collins are expected to take charge for the foreseeable future.

Chatham Town travel to Horsham YMCA on Tuesday night, a side that’s second from bottom in the table, before welcoming basement boys Molesey to Maidstone Road next Saturday.

Miles admitted that 75% of his decision to part company with the club was work related.

“I start my new job tomorrow and I’ll be missing a lot of football and can’t give 100% to the club,” he explained.

“Obviously things aren’t going well on the pitch. I can’t put the extra time in because of my new job as I have to study.

“I’m safe in saying they’re putting Steve Binks in charge of that (Horsham YMCA) game. Steve Best and Alan Collins are still there and will step in until the club decide what to do.”

Reflecting on his past few hours, Miles said: “I did it (resigned) after the game yesterday. They said I’ve had to sleep on it. I need to step back and take a break but I’m not going to disappear from football for ever.

“A couple of players tried to make me stay but I’ve been thinking about it for a month. I don’t think I can give the same commitment to try and turn it around.

“The only person I’ve spoken to is my wife Jill over the last month or so - it’s a shock to everyone.

“I didn’t speak to anyone about it (before yesterday). I decided I would start my job and see how things went but after yesterday’s poor performance I’m not going to wait any longer.

“It was a shock to the players and the club. I knew deep down I couldn’t put the commitment in and yesterday’s performance made that decision for me.”

And he added: “I’m not disappearing. I’ll be watching, spending time with my twin boys, aged seven. I’ll be watching Chatham, Lordswood, Faversham and some of the local teams. My boys love football and Chatham and I’ll visit my dad in Faversham and go down the road and watch them.”

A number of Kent based managers will be interested in the Maidstone Road vacancy, and Miles says his successor will be managing a “stable club.”

“It’s a friendly club, a loyal club,” he said. “They stuck by me and believed in me last year and we ended quite strongly.

“There’s some good players there but what we lacked is consistency.

“I do believe we had seven first team players missing for a month but once the full squad is back, whoever takes over, they’ve got a good squad of players there with potential.

“The club’s debt free. I know it’s a council owned ground but money wise, they’re not owing anyone money.

“They’ve not gone silly with their budget. Other clubs cut their money. Whatever budget you have at the start of the season, you have the same at the end.

“It’s a good stable club. It just needs to attract a few more people and sponsors to take the club forward.”

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UPDATED: 18:30
Following our interview with Steve Binks, he has said that he has been appointed manager until the end of this season.Following our interview with Steve Binks, he has said that he has been appointed manager until the end of this season.