Welling United feel naturally disappointed that they have had to make the decision to part ways with manager Lee Martin after only 13 games at the helm at Park View Road

WELLING UNITED have parted ways with manager Lee Martin with the struggling club in the Isthmian League Premier Division relegation zone after 10 League games.

The Park View Road outfit gave the former Ramsgate title-winning midfielder his first managerial job on 3 May but things haven’t worked out for the 38-year-old, as the Wings have picked up only two wins and suffered eight defeats.

Martin faced a backlash from disgruntled fans online following the club’s 2-1 defeat to Aveley-based outfit Hashtag United on Tuesday night and a parting of ways was inevitable due to the side’s poor run of form.

The club suffered relegation from the National League South at the end of last season and are struggling at the wrong end of the table in their maiden Isthmian League campaign.

A club statement said: “Welling United can confirm that the club and manager Lee Martin have parted ways following a disappointing start to the season.

“We would like to place on record our gratitude to Lee for his efforts, professionalism and commitment during his time at Park View Road and we wish him every success in the future.

“The club can confirm that former Wings assistant boss and Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings United manager, Paul Barnes, will take charge of first-team duties on an interim basis.

“During this period, the club will conduct a thorough process to appoint a long-term successor.”

The statement also included a message from the club’s board.

“Lee has given his absolute all to the role since joining us in the summer and we’re naturally disappointed that we have had to make the decision to part ways.

“While we’re working hard on stabilising the club behind the scenes, with some exciting developments to be announced in due course, it’s vitally important that we prioritise stabilising matters on the pitch to ensure we start climbing up the table.

“We’d like to thank supporters for their continued patience and loyalty and look forward to working together towards improved results on the pitch, starting with Saturday’s FA Trophy trip to Royston Town.”

Martin was in charge for only 13 games, sealing only a couple of League wins in the seventh-tier Isthmian League Premier Division at Chichester City (2-1) and a bottom-of-the-table home clash against Peter Taylor’s Canvey Island (4-1 on 20 September), but Martin’s side have lost their last three games.

Welling United have lost to Cheshunt (2-4), Aveley (0-1), Lewes (0-1), Cray Valley (0-3), Dulwich Hamlet (1-3), Ramsgate (1-4), Carshalton Athletic (1-2) and Hashtag United.

A 2-1 win at Uxbridge in The FA Cup was followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Slough Town and then the club lost the Second Qualifying Round Replay 1-0 in Berkshire.

Canvey Island remain at the foot of the table with one point from their opening eight of 42 games, with Wingate & Finchley (four points from seven), Potters Bar Town (five points from nine) and Welling United inside the relegation zone.

Newly-promoted side Burgess Hill Town sit in eighteenth-place in the table on nine points from as many games, then it’s Billericay Town (nine points from eight) and Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley on nine from eight.

Barnes takes his side to Royston Town in The FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round on Saturday, a struggling side that are second-from-bottom in the Southern League Premier Division Central Division table, with six points (one win and three draws) from their opening eight games.

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