Soccer Shorts: Whitstable Town unveil Ashley Miller's arrival

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ASHFORD UNITED have appointed Lee Ealham as their director of football.

He brings with him a wealth of football experience, having been involved in football as a professional player and a very experienced non-league footballer, having put in some 527 appearances over his non-league playing career.

Ealham, who started his career as a teenager on the books of Millwall, has featured for Gillingham and Lincoln City, before dropping into non-league and playing for Dover Athletic, Tunbridge Wells, Dartford, Folkestone Invicta, Margate, Erith & Belvedere, Chatham Town, Canterbury City and Ashford Town.

Ealham says he will support the club’s current first team management staff of Paul Chambers and his assistant John Ovard.

Ealham told www.ashfordunitedfc.com: “I see my role as one of an advisor on all things football. I am not coming in to take over the manager’s role.  Indeed I will be working very closely with Paul and John in our quest to bring success on the field for Ashford.

“I will be having a close look at the footballing scene around Ashford and district as I know full well there will be untapped raw talent out there.

“I hope to be able to identify that talent and with the exploding population taking effect around Ashford there is bound to be another Chris Smalling, David Beckham or an Ian Wright out there just waiting to be identified.

“My previous experience will bring to the club a complete look at all things football from the training, the player’s attitude and discipline, discussion on formations, player position and their strengths.  In fact, it’s an endless list.”

Ealham added: “The team that runs Ashford United has worked with me in the past and is a proven set-up that works.

“Don (Crosbie) is an out-and-out football man and his families ownership of the freehold and the stadium gives Ashford a unique advantage over the majority of non-league clubs in as much as they actually own the ground and the football club that plays at that ground.  There are no landlords and no tenants.

“I feel sure that we will as a club progress from strength to strength and that my input on all things football will add to that strength.”

BROMLEY have explained why they have controversially withdrawn from the London Senior Cup.

The Ravens lifted the silverware with a 2-0 win over Ryman Premier League side Kingstonian at Metropolitan Police’s Imber Court at the end of last season.

They were due to play League Two side AFC Wimbledon in the quarter-finals, a day after travelling to Dover Athletic to contest a Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final, but the Dons will now travel to Southern Counties East Football League side Cray Valley next Wednesday, 2 April, instead.

The winners will play Ryman Premier League sides Metropolitan Police or Wingate & Finchley, who meet each other at Imber Court on Tuesday, 8 April, in the showpiece final.

“We are proud holders and would have loved to defend our title but honestly believe that by playing the Quarter-Final the day after an existing first team fixture we can do neither ourselves nor the competition the justice deserved,” said Bromley’s club statement.

“It seems inevitable that the fixture against AFC Wimbledon would have been a very one-sided affair, with them emerging victorious.

“Therefore, we hope that by bowing out now we can give AFC Wimbledon the chance to use w/c 31 March for their semi-final against Cray Valley, if they so wish, or at least a little additional time in order to arrange for that match to be played in good time ahead of the Final.

“We very much enjoyed our trip to Imber Court last season and would like to ensure that whoever reaches this year’s final has the ability to do the same.”

DARTFORD have made their home game against league leaders Luton Town next Tuesday, 1 April, an all-ticket affair. 

Tickets can be purchased from reception at Princes Park Stadium during office hours, or from the Champions Bar outside these times.

“Advance entry ticket must be purchased for the game. No tickets will be sold on the evening,” said a club statement.

“We anticipate this game will be well attended. Advanced ticket purchase is compulsory for guaranteed entry to the game.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE assistant manager Martin Barnard has left the club by mutual consent.

The club are rooted in the bottom two in the Ryman League Division One North table with 22 points from 38 games, 9 points adrift of safety with eight games remaining.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA chairman Mark Jenner has explained why the club must travel to play Guernsey on a Friday night, on the penultimate day of the league season.
 
“We have been notified by Guernsey Football Club that they are unable to fulfil the scheduled fixture against Folkestone Invicta on 26 April due to the States of Guernsey owned Footes Lane Stadium used for their home games being contracted to state a competing sporting event on that day,” Mr Jenner said in a club statement, which was posted on www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk.

“Despite strong protestations the Department of Culture and Leisure have proved inflexible in accommodating the football fixture at the arranged time with the facility not being made available until after 5pm. 

“Being the last game of the season the Ryman League have insisted that the kick off time cannot be later than 3pm on that day in order to avoid giving either team the advantage of knowing what results have occurred elsewhere earlier in the afternoon.

“This problem was only brought to the attention of the Folkestone Invicta board during the course of the last week following which several options, including switching the fixture to the Fullicks Stadium, were discussed with Guernsey FC officials who put them to the Ryman League for approval. 

“It was deemed not possible to switch the fixture to Folkestone with the League ruling that the fixture must be either be played on the Friday evening preceding or on a neutral ground on the mainland on the Saturday.

“After discussions with the playing staff it has been agreed that the fixture will be played on Friday 25 April at 7.45pm in Guernsey. We have taken the view that we exist to take part in sport and do not wish to be seen to be gaining a potential technical advantage by adopting an unsporting attitude.

“Negotiations are in progress to see if existing bookings made by Folkestone supporters can be changed or alternatively refunds can be made by the airline with Guernsey FC and the Department of Tourism helping in this regard with communications with the airline.  Those affected should be aware though that they may not recover all their money. 

“This completely unforeseen event is very disappointing for supporters from both clubs and had it not been the last game of the season a different outcome might have been arranged but there appears to be no other feasible option.”

GREENWICH BOROUGH have confirmed that before last night’s game against Whyteleafe that a two-year extension to the current ground share agreement was signed by Bill Archer and Perry Skinner on behalf of Dartford and Greenwich Borough Football Clubs.
 
HERNE BAY left-back Danny Walder has signed for Conference South side Tonbridge Angels, where he will play for nothing.

Walder was previously at Longmead Stadium before joining Herne Bay.

Calum McGeehan is on his way back and will go straight into the Herne Bay squad for Saturday’s trip to Horsham.

McGeehan was the player-of-the-year at Winch’s Field last season and signed for Southern Counties East Football League side Lordswood last summer.

However, the departure of former Herne Bay manager Simon Halsey, has seen the player agree terms with Bay boss Sam Denly to return to Winch’s Field.

“I wish Danny well on his return to Longmead and thank him for his contribution to Herne Bay Football Club,” Denly told www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay.  

“It’s great to welcome Calum back to Winch’s Field.  He is a quality player with Step 4 experience, knows the lads, how we are set up and will fit straight into that.”

The club would like to express its thanks to Thamesmead Town manager Keith McMahon, who held a dual registration to McGeehan and waived the seven-day notice requirement in order that the deadline for signing could be met.
 
MARGATE have confirmed that goalkeeper Craig Holloway and midfielder Richard Avery are on the transfer list.

“Craig has gone onto the list at his own request.  The experienced keeper has found his opportunities limited since the arrival of Nikki Bull,” said a club statement.

“Richard Avery has just returned from his loan spell at Chelmsford City and has also been placed on the transfer list.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED have confirmed that manager Jay Saunders has signed a one-year extension to his rolling contract.

The new deal will keep Saunders, 35, at the Gallagher Stadium until the summer of 2015 and allows him to start making preparations for the next campaign as this season enters its final weeks.

Saunders told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “I am delighted and it’s an honour to have the opportunity to carry on as first team manager. The timing’s perfect as I can start planning for next season and talking to players.

Chief executive Bill Williams added: “The directors were unanimous in their decision to extend Jay’s contract for another season.  He’s on course to deliver our best finish in the Ryman Premier Division in recent years and got us to a League Cup Final.

“His work with the academy is reaping rewards and we’ve seen several talented youngsters make it into the first team.”

Saunders has been in charge of the club’s first team since March 2011 and became a full-time coach at the club’s academy last November.

WHITSTABLE TOWN have today signed former Gillingham striker Ashley Miller.

Miller made his professional debut for the Gills as a substitute against Wycombe Wanderers on 2 November 2010, at the age of sixteen.

Shortly after his professional debut, Miller was scouted and then linked with a move to various Premier League sides, however a move to Liverpool never materialised.

Miller made his first start for Gillingham on 7 March 2012 in a home game against Barnet and scored his first senior goal in a 4-3 defeat to Crewe Alexandra three days later.

“My mission is to help him and reinvigorate Ash to get his mojo back,” said manager Nicky Southall.

“Great signing in capturing young Ashley Miller.  I can’t wait to work with him again. He was a top prospect three years ago. He will play League football again.”