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Experienced former EFL player speaks for first time on becoming new Welling manager

The experienced former EFL player Lee Martin speaks for the first time on becoming the new Welling United manager.

The club prepare for life in the 7th tier, having been relegated from the National League South, finishing 22nd with 38 points from 46 games and 8 points from safety.

Lee Martin, a 38 year old former midfielder, most recently helped Ramsgate win the Isthmian League Division South East title before transitioning to management.

The appointment, signing a two-year contract with an optional third year, has had quite the reaction on social media.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Welling United are delighted to confirm Lee Martin as the club’s new First-Team Manager.

38-year-old midfielder Martin enjoyed a successful playing career having began as a youngster with Manchester United, making three first-team appearances for the Premier League giants, while enjoying loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Rangers, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.

He made a permanent move to Ipswich Town in 2009 where he made well over 100 appearances over a four-year spell which included a loan stay with Charlton Athletic during the 2010/11 campaign.

A three-year stint with Millwall followed before Martin also represented Northampton Town, Gillingham, Exeter City, Ebbsfleet United, Dover Athletic, Ashford United and, most recently, Ramsgate, where he rounded off his playing career by helping his side to the Isthmian League Division South East title.

He now turns his attention to management as he looks to help the Wings rebuild following relegation from the National League South in 2024/25.

Martin has signed a two-year deal, with an optional third, and will be assisted by his former teammate, Welling-born Billy Bingham who enjoyed a career as a midfielder for Dagenham & Redbridge, Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham, Bromley and Faversham Town.

The new Wings boss will meet supporters at a ‘Meet the Manager’ event at Park View Road, with full details to be announced in due course.

Speaking after putting pen to paper at Park View Road, Martin said: “I’m making that transition from playing into management and I’m delighted to get it over the line – I can’t wait to get started.

“The rebuild has started. We’re ahead of the curve in terms of recruitment, we’ve highlighted some good players and the big thing we’re going after now is character. We want good characters around the place because we want to merge the players and supporters back together.

“The fans are fundamental to what we want to create here. By all accounts, there’s been a disconnect and we want them to feel a part of us so we can be one team together.

“We want to have control of possession,.

“We want to be aggressive, play through the thirds and create goalscoring opportunities. We want supporters to be coming here excited to watch an entertaining game of football and one in which we score plenty of goals.”

Here’s how fans reacted as the experienced former EFL player speaks for first time on becoming new Welling manager…

@HarropAngelo: Congratulations lee. All the very best mate. 👊⚽️

@EmmaCoop1981: Welcome to Welling Lee. Fresh start for the club and looking forward to the new season x

@Josephellul37: What a human and even better gaffa, wish u all the best my brother u will smash it ❤️❤️

@LeeTaylor93 A gamble but hopefully it pays off this time next year

@Shomer1987: Massive gamble by the club to bring in a manager with no prior experience managing men’s football before in what is a big rebuild for the club. Good luck to Lee all the same

@saundeel: Can he get Rooney out of retirement for a season? Good luck mate

@wingsfanno1: Don’t mind this he’s used to playing in red at ramsgate and man united so hopefully that helps 👊🔴

@cookieonscreen: Love this from Welling! New young manager who will wants to do things in the right way! All the best Marts!

@CallumHallett6: Even more competitive next season; I love Non-League right now. Every division gets more + more competitive every season w/ a mixture of exciting projects coming up through divisions, mixed w/ massive clubs or surprising relegations. Makes for superb viewing.

@teaboy279: Give him a month before he takes more money elsewhere.

@AFCPickett0712: Good luck Lee, recruitment is massive, we need to hit the ground running

@AlanHanson69699: Good luck Lee in your new job. I hope you do well

@WillHackett9: not sure about this but really hope i’m massively proved wrong

@seanhillSH: Congrats Marts. The wings have not only got a football expert obsessed with details. But just a damn good human. No doubt will be successful. 🐏 🪽

@darrylfcoach: Good luck Marts 👍

@Smudge1979: Good luck Lee

@tom_riding170: Hopefully sign step 2 players and a get a platform for the following season. Good luck Lee.

@piercesweenz: Brilliant fella with a fantastic football brain 🙌🏻 goodluck mate ❤️

@WingsFan625: Hope he does well, but the amount of rival fans and neutrals that are coming on this announcement mocking it doesn’t give a great impression. Nobody can really judge it until we start playing football matches with pressure on it, but effective recruitment this time is vital.

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