Hollands & Blair appoint Ian Draycott after Darren Blackburn stands down due to work commitments after guiding Gillingham side to seventh-place finish after a tough start

HOLLANDS & BLAIR chairman Paul Piggott has appointed coach Ian Draycott as their new manager yesterday after Darren Blackburn stood down due to work commitments.

The last act that Blackburn did for the Gillingham-based club was to attend the club’s Kent Intermediate Cup Final victory over Tonbridge Angels in neighbouring Chatham last Wednesday.

Blackburn arrested the slide down the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, finding themselves in the bottom two in the table after 15 League games in November, before settling for a respectable seventh-place finish in the ninth-tier division.

Blair picked up 57 points (18 wins, three draws and 15 defeats), missing out on the play-offs by six points.

“Our first-team manager Darren Blackburn has decided to step down from his position due to work commitments and this is with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

“Darren has navigated his way through the last couple of seasons narrowly missing the play-offs after what can only be described as a tough start.

“This was Darren’s second spell in charge and he’s done us and himself proud and on behalf of the committee and the supporters, we thank him wholeheartedly for his commitment to Hollands & Blair Football Cub.

“We wish Darren and his family all the very best for the future and we look forward to seeing him again at Blair games, cheering us on from the sidelines, knowing his contribution to our club has been recognised as both a player, manager and supporter.

“We are pleased to be able to act swiftly to appoint within and as such we can announce that Ian Draycott has accepted the invitation to become our first-team manager moving forward.

“Draycs has been one of Darren’s trusted assistants through the season and comes with vast experience at both this level and higher.”

Draycott, 37, a striker, has previously played for the likes of Bedford Town, Lewes, Maidstone United, Leatherhead, Folkestone Invicta, Ashford United, Folkestone Invicta and arrived at Darland Avenue in 2024.

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website: www.hollandsandblair.co.uk