Sheppey United part company with Kevin Watson with the Batten brothers' appointed until the end of the season

SHEPPEY UNITED have parted company with manager Kevin Watson tonight after a winless run of seven games.

 

The Isthmian League South East Division eighth-tier club have announced the departure of Watson and his assistant manager Tommy Osborne.

The pair were announced as the new management team on 23 March 2025 but officially took over for pre-season.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Kevin and Tommy for their hard work, professionalism and commitment during their time at the club,” said a club statement.

“We wish them every success in their future careers.

“Ian and George Batten will now manage the team until the end of the season, enabling the club enough time to consider its approach for the 2026-27 season.

“As such, Shaun Monahan and Ross Wiles will jointly-take over the management duties (at Sheppey Sports) during this period.”

Sheppey United lost 2-0 at Margate on Saturday and find themselves in fifteenth-place (bottom eight) in the table with 36 points (10 wins, six draws and 13 defeats), having extended their winless run to seven games.

Watson was in charge of 37 games in all competitions, winning 13, drawing 9 and losing 15 but their poor run of form has seen the former Chatham Town, Cray Valley (Paper Mills), Herne Bay and Ashford United manager lose his job.

The Ites are 10 points clear of the relegation zone and 16 points adrift of the play-offs and are at home to Broadbridge Heath this coming Saturday.

The Batten brothers have never managed in the Isthmian League before and left Sheppey Sports sitting in eighth-place in the tenth-tier Southern Counties East Football League First Division, having collected 29 points (eight wins, five draws and eight defeats) from their 21 games.

Their late father Ernie did so many great things for his beloved Sheppey United both on and off the pitch.

The pair’s last game in charge of Sheppey Sports was at the weekend, when they defeated Bridon Ropes 3-1 at Holm Park.

K Sports vacated Cobdown, their Aylesford based ground to move in at Sheppey United’s Holm Park, changing their name to Sheppey Sports in the summer of 2024.

Previous names of the 1919 founded club include Aylesford Paper Mills, APM Mears, APM and APM Contrast before controversially switching to K Sports in the summer of 2016.