Richard Styles resigns as Whitstable Town's manager after only 14 games in charge

WHITSTABLE TOWN begin the search for a new management team after Richard Styles and his assistant manager Dan Morrin departed yesterday after only 14 games in charge at Belmont Road.

 

The club were relegated from the Isthmian League last season and are currently sitting in tenth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 15 points from 11 games.

The Oystermen are 15 points adrift of league leaders Erith & Belvedere, whom have claimed 10 wins out of 10 and Styles’ final game in charge was to oversee their 1-0 home defeat to Stansfeld in the Kent Senior Trophy at the weekend.

“After lengthy discussions with the chairman over the past 24 hours, Richard Styles and Dan Morrin have both decided to resign from their management positions at Whitstable Town with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

“Richard and Dan have both sent their best wishes to the club moving forwards.

“First-team coach Mark Towse has also left the club.

“The club directors would like to thank Richard, Dan and Mark for all of their hard work and commitment since joining in May.

“We are all disappointed that things did not work out as hoped but they leave with our best wishes and hopefully they will enjoy successful times in football once again in the future.

“The club will now look to appoint a new manager as soon as possible to help us achieve our objectives of gaining promotion back to the Isthmian League, whilst also helping to develop our young players that are progressing through our strong youth structure and football Academy.”

Styles, who left Tunbridge Wells after three seasons and 99 games in charge at Culverden Stadium to take over the relegated club, won five, drew one and lost eight of his games while in charge of the Oystermen.

Styles said: “I feel now is the right time to leave after it’s become clear that there is no longer a united vision going forward between myself and other parties at the club.”

Morrin, who has been Styles’ assistant manager at both Lordswood and Tunbridge Wells, as well as working together for Charlton Athletic’s Community Trust, added: “Our time at Whitstable Town has come to an end.  It feels like the right and appropriate time to walk away from the project we embarked on.  We await the next challenge.”

Whitstable Town finished bottom of the Isthmian League South East Division table last season, having collected 30 points from their 38 games.

Lloyd Blackman, Ben Harding, Keith McMahon and Andy Drury were all in charge of the Oystermen during the 2021-22 season.

The club has not stated who will be in charge for Saturday’s league game away to third-placed Stansfeld as chairman Steve Clayton begins the search for another manager.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website:  www.whitstabletownfc.club