We are pleased to announce that new Chats boss Paul Foley has put the finishing touches to his management team.

Joining as assistant manager is MARK NEWSON who was also Paul’s assistant at VCD, with KEVIN WATSON signing as the new Player Coach.  Paul had hoped that Andy Silk would be able to join him in the move from VCD, but Andy has been unable to commit due to work commitments.  Completing the management team will be goalkeeping coach BARRY BELL and physiotherapist PHIL JEFFS – please see below for full profiles of the new management team.

When asked about the appointments, Paul told chathamtownfc.net, “It is a real shame that Andy could not join up with us all once more but a change in his working hours on a Saturday meant he would not be able to commit fully to the role.  Silky was superb for us at VCD over the last two seasons and will be sorely missed, not only for his coaching but also for his dressing room presence where his character was infectious.  That said, we’re delighted to have Kevin on board with us.  When he signed for VCD halfway through the last season, he was keen to move into coaching and we agreed that at the right time we would look to bring him onto the management team.  Silky didn’t want to let anyone down so told me straight away after his first week on his new hours.  I immediately thought of bringing Kevin into the team and along with Mark and myself, we have a good mix for the new campaign and a fresh link to new players given the clubs Kevin has played for over the last 10 years.  Kevin will continue to be a key member of the playing staff but he will become more involved with the management team and the training sessions.”

The new look management team will be meeting all of the players who are coming to pre season this weekend to go through the pre season plans.  Details of the new signings and the existing players who are re signing will be released in the near future.

PROFILES

PAUL FOLEY – Ex Margate, Fisher Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Greenwich Borough, Erith & Belvedere, Ramsgate, Maidstone and Dartford defender/midfielder who has won the Kent League twice at spells with Ramsgate and Maidstone (and a small cameo when Cray Wanderers won the league for the 2^nd time), the Kent Senior Trophy 4 times with Greenwich Borough, Ramsgate, Maidstone and VCD and the Kent League Cup 3 times with Greenwich Borough, Ramsgate and Maidstone.  Scored a solitary goal for Fisher back in 1989 in their Conference days and reached the last 8 of the FA Vase with Ramsgate and last 16 twice with VCD.  Went from captain to manager at VCD for the 2007/08 season narrowly missing out on a first-season title win finishing in 2^nd spot before securing the Kent Premier League and Kent Senior Trophy in only his second season in charge.  Led the Crayford based club into the Ryman North for the first time in their 94 year history where they finished the season on 67 points in 8^th spot just missing out on the play off places.

MARK NEWSON – former professional player having played for AFC Bournemouth, Fulham (where he skippered the side), Tottenham Hotspur and Vaxjo International in Sweden. ‘Newse’ started as a professional with Charlton Athletic before enjoying a distinguished non-league career with Maidstone United before being snapped up by then Bournemouth manager Harry Redknapp where he captained the side to the Third Division championship in 1987.  Mark then continued his career for a number of high profile non-league clubs including Barnet, Aylesbury United, Gravesend & Northfleet (now Ebbsfleet) and Fisher Athletic.  Mark is fully qualified coach who works for the Kent FA and also at the David Beckham Academy as a senior coach and teamed up with the Paul Foley at VCD at the end of November 2009 before agreeing to join the management team at Maidstone Road.

KEVIN WATSON – the former Folkestone, Welling United, Carshalton, Team Bath, Maidstone United and Concord Rangers defender is the new player-coach to work alongside Manager Paul Foley and Assistant Manager Mark Newson. Former VCD coach Andy Silk was unable to commit to the role due to work commitments so Foley moved quickly to appoint from ‘within’ and hand the 28 year old Watson his first senior coaching role. Watson holds a UEFA “A” coaching badge; is a qualified FA Coach and PE teacher who is delighted to accept the role of Player-Coach. 

BARRY BELL – Joined Paul’s VCD management team in October 2008 at the same time as James Tedder rejoined VCD as he had previously been working with James at the Chats.  Barry is a fully qualified Goalkeeping coach who has worked at a number of clubs including Pheonix Sports and Dartford.  Barry works with all of the senior goalkeepers at 1st team and reserve team level and is a valuable asset to the management team.  Barry has a wealth of experience having coached many goalkeepers in the Kent area and provides intensive one to one tuition.

PHIL JEFFS – is a fully qualified chartered physiotherapist who works for at Maidstone Hospital as a A&E Musculoskeletal Practitioner and Extended Scope Physiotherapist. Phil teamed up with the management team at Oakwood in 2007 and to provide physio and rehabilitation treatment to the first and senior teams as well as the youth sides. Phil played a key part at Oakwood in getting players back on the pitch and is always looking to introduce new ideas to the fitness and injury prevention programmes for each player.

Notice is hereby given that the AGM for season 2009/2010 for the Chatham Town FC teams that compete in the Invicta Cabs League and the Express Cabs League will be held on MONDAY 5TH JULY 2010 in the Main Bar at Chatham Town FC, Bourneville Avenue, Chatham and will begin at 7:30pm.

At this time appointments for the nominated positions for the new season (2010/2011) will take place, and all interested parties are invited to attend. 

Please note that the Express Cabs Secretaries and Treasurers positions at the time of this posting have no nominations and anyone interested in filling one of these trusted positions is requested to contact the Club as soon as possible by email.

Chatham Town Football Club are pleased confirm the appointment of Paul Foley as first team manager for the forthcoming 2010/2011 Ryman League season.

Paul will be joining the club after resigning from the manager’s role at VCD Athletic, where he guided the Vickers through the most successful period in their history taking them from the Kent League title into the Ryman league Division One North last season for the very first time where they finished a very creditable 8^th place.

The 38 year old son of former Arsenal and Millwall assistant manager Theo Foley said after his appointment, “'I am delighted to accept the offer of manager of Chatham Town FC and I am already looking forward to the season ahead, be it in the North or South section.  Having met with the Chairman and some members of the committee to discuss the position, I felt that the club has the scope to improve and move forward and there are planned strategies in place to improve off the pitch.”

”It appears that the club needs to engage once more with its local community; to get some more people through the turnstiles and to give them something positive to associate with the town!  And the best way to do that, is to get a team that is getting results on the pitch so that’s our job. I am looking forward to that challenge as I have done throughout my career!”

When asked about his decision to leave VCD, Foley commented, “It was not an easy decision to leave as I had six great seasons there as captain and then manager but it felt like the right time to move on and I pretty much made my mind up back in February.  However, if required to I will, with Jeff’s (Jeff Talbot – CTFC chairman) knowledge, continue to assist with VCD’s appeal against relegation from the Ryman League as much as I can.”

”The Chatham job came up recently and I am very pleased to be offered the chance to be part of the next chapter in the club's long history. The recent news regarding the proposed re-allocation to the North does not affect our enthusiasm for the job in hand - if anything we are at an advantage as we have just competed in that league and competed well.  I am sure the club would rather be in the South, given the local Kent derbies and better attendances but I will let the committee deal with the FA on any allocation issues that arise in the days and weeks ahead.  The management team I am assembling will just be focusing on getting a squad of players ready for Ryman Division 1 be in North or South. The next few weeks will be busy but come August 21st we will have a strong squad that I’m sure will be capable to deal with either section of the league.”

The rest of Paul’s management team, and his first signings will be confirmed here first on the official CTFC website over the coming weeks, but everyone connected with the club wishes him well in his new post!

We will of course keep you advised of the structure of Paul’s management team as well as any developments as to the Division of the Ryman League the Chats are “asked” to play in for the coming season as they become available over the course of the next few weeks.

Chatham Town FC have this evening confirmed that Paul Foley has agreed to become the Clubs new First Team Manager with immediate effect.

The club will issue a formal statement confirming Pauls appointment in the next couple of days.  Also Paul will be issuing a few words later on today about his new role with Chatham Town Football Club.