Ramsgate appoint ex-Palace, Millwall, Gillingham player with hopes of promotion

Ramsgate appoint ex-Palace, Millwall, Gillingham player Steve Lovell with hopes of promotion from the Isthmian League South East Division.

The former Gills player and manager makes a quick return to football having been the League One side’s caretaker for a short term earlier in 2022.

Lovell has agreed to take charge until the end of the season for now following Matt Longhurst’s departure, which leaves the club 5th in the table, 59 points from 34 games played and positions them in the playoff.

📃Steve Lovell Football CV pic.twitter.com/YPG440X07j

— Ramsgate Football Club (@RamsgateFC) April 4, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

Ramsgate FC are delighted to announce the appointment of former Gillingham Football Club manager Steve Lovell until the end of the season.

Lovell was caretaker boss at Gillingham just 3 months ago making way for current boss Neil Harris who took over the League 1 side on 31st January.

Chairman James Lawson was delighted with securing such a high calibre appointment. He stated “The quality of the applicants we have received in the last twenty four hours is testament to the hard work that so many people have put into growing this community club. Steve would be a stand out candidate for positions at league clubs and we are delighted that our efforts have attracted him to our club. We have some huge games on the horizon and I look forward to introducing Steve to the squad.”

Steve who will take the squad for the first time on Tuesday night had this to say; “I’m so pleased and excited to be asked to become Ramsgate FC manager for the remainder of the season. James Lawson is working very hard to make Ramsgate FC a force on the football field and in the local community. Looking forward to the remaining four games and the prospect of play off games.”

The former Wales International has an impressive CV both on the field and as a manager. Having played for Crystal Palace, Millwall, Swansea and Bournemouth, Lovell has enjoyed managerial posts at Welling United, Ashford and Sittingbourne as well as two stints at Gillingham.

Steve’s first game is at home to fellow play off hopefuls Hayward’s Heath on Saturday with a 3pm kick off at the WW Martin Community Stadium.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

The chairman said on Matt Longhurst’s departure: “As many are aware Matt Longhurst informed the club of his decision to resign from the football club last Sunday.

“After a long period of reflection, the club have decided to accept this offer with Matt exiting from all duties at the club with immediate effect.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to Matt for his part in our rapid expansion to become one of the largest community clubs in the country. We have a brand new 3G surface and hugely upgraded infrastructure. The club is proud to have a squad full of extremely talented young players and we currently sit in the play off positions with four games left. Whilst average home attendances have grown to around seven hundred.

“After achieving rapid growth and becoming such an important institution in our community now is the time for professionalism and stability. We embark on a huge week with over three hundred and fifty children attending our Easter camps ahead of a home game against fellow play off contenders Haywards Heath.

“The club have projects in the pipeline that are far more ambitious than anything we have already achieved to date and we will talk to a number of people about the first team role this week.

“We move forward more united than ever. Come on you Rams. James Lawson Chairman”

Social media users reacted as Ramsgate appoint the ex-Palace, Millwall, Gillingham player with hopes of promotion…

@Ryanhuddart1: Great appointment 👏🏼👏🏼

@ShoutingTv: Good luck to him

@Joshuamorgan94: Christ this fella will take any job 😅

@pully14: Great appointment.. cracking bloke aswell

Chris Waddington: Top football guy you’ve got, treat him well 👏

Ristear Sinnoc: That’s some appointment getting Steve Lovell 👏

Gary Mayhew: great player for the lions enjoyed watching him scoring goals in the 80s

Barry Davis: Top manager. Best of luck Steve. Up the Gills.

Micky Morgan: That’s great news for the club. It’s about time they had someone of that calibre… 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Derek Crow-Brown: Well done James. Quality appointment. Best community club in Kent.

Daf Dafboy: Welcome to a fellow Welsh man. Just hope he help get the job done cos the lads have come so far to just throw it away 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Mitch Harding-mccormack: Great player for the gills , saw him play many a time for gillingham in the late 80’s

John Dougal: Well done James exciting times ahead

Denis Dickinson: I think that should please a lot of people a lot have been saying we need an experienced man to take over from Matt and for sure he is experienced,good luck Steve

Marc Smith: Played with him at Deal and was a top bloke 👍

Ashley Harlow: Couldn’t meet a nicer chap great manager too

Jamie Reader: Wow what an announcement

Dave Boniface: Please pass on my congratulations to Steve for me. good luck for the rest of the season