Ford steps down as Wings manager

Monday 12th October 2009

ANDY FORD has today resigned as manager of Welling United, writes Mike Green.

On their website this afternoon, the Wings issued the following statement; “Welling United can today confirm that Andy Ford has resigned from his position as first team manager with immediate effect. Ford stepped down from his role on Monday 12th October 2009, ending his reign as Wings Boss, which had started in January 2008.

"Lee Protheroe will take temporary charge whilst the club will now begin the search for a new manager.”

Ford was appointed as Wings Boss on the 31st January 2008, taking over from previous manager Neil Smith. Phil Handford joined Ford as his assistant and the two kept the Wings in the Blue Square South division.

However, in the summer of 2008, Handford left his position as assistant manager and former Sutton United boss Jimmy Dack was given the role.

Last season saw the pair guide the Wings to 7th place finish, the highest ever for the Kent side in the Blue Square South. They also secured the Kent Senior Cup for Welling with a 6-1 defeat of Whitstable Town in the final.

Assistant Dack departed in the summer of 2009, and thus Ford had to appoint a new assistant. He eventually gave the position to Lee Protheroe.

Although Welling had a promising pre-season, it was a disappointing start to the 2009-10 Blue Square South campaign, with the Wings currently lying in 18th position, with a record of three wins and two draws.

Despite only 12 league games into the season, Ford resigned today, with his last game in charge being the 2-0 defeat to high-flying rivals Dover Athletic in the penultimate qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Ford, who signed for Gillingham from arch rivals Swindon Town, led Gravesend and Northfleet to the Ryman Premier League title before guiding the Fleet to the Conference. Upon leaving Stonebridge Road he was ironically replaced by Liam Daish, who at the time had been in charge at Welling.

During his tenure at Park View Road, the Wings produced a flowing type of football that really was for the most part pleasing on the eye and they only just missed out on the end of season Play Offs last term, despite Ford having continued difficulties in finding a striker to supplement the goals of top marksman Charlie Sheringham.

In the end it was to be Sheringham who scored the last League goals of Ford’s time at Park View Road – sadly not for the Wings (having moved to Bishops Stortford in the summer) but for his new employers in their 2-0 at Park View Road ten days ago.

When www.kentishfootball.co.uk contacted Ford at 5 o’clock this afternoon, he said that he will issue us a statement tomorrow morning.

Whatever Andy decides to do in the future footballing wise, www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to go on record and thank him for all the help and interviews that he has given us in his time at the Welling helm, and we wish him well in whatever he may choose to do now, and hope that we meet him again very soon on a football pitch somewhere within the county.

For caretaker boss Protheroe, the baptism of fire couldn’t really be much greater – away to his former club Chelmsford City on Saturday.

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