Maxwell wings it in to Welling hotseat

Welling United have ended their six-week search for a new manager by appointing Ryan Maxwell as the club’s new boss.

His arrival brings stability after the dismissal of Lee Martin, with former Wings manager Rod Stringer overseeing the side on a caretaker basis in the interim. Speculation around Maxwell had been growing for days and intensified once he resigned from his role at Sittingbourne.

Maxwell leaves the Brickies after a hugely successful spell. He kept them in the Isthmian South East against the odds, then guided them to third- and second-place finishes and an FA Trophy quarter-final run. Before that, he performed a similar escape act with Braintree in National League South before stepping back from management.

Welling, once operating in the National League as recently as 2016, have endured a sharp decline. Relegated from National League South last season, they now sit six points adrift of safety in the Isthmian Premier.

Maxwell will be joined at Park View Road by long-time assistant Billy McMahon, and he believes the club still holds big potential.

“We all know what Welling can be,” he said. “It’s been in the National League, it was in National League South last season — that history shows what’s possible.

“The last couple of seasons have been tough and that’s why I’m here: to help drag the club back up by the bootlaces. The potential is obvious and we need to tap into it and grow the club again.

“That’s what we did at Sittingbourne — on and off the pitch. Crowds went from 125 to 400. We built momentum. I want to do the same here.

“It’s a fresh start for everyone: me, the players, the fans, the board, the owners. To hit the heights this club is capable of, everyone needs to pull in the same direction.”

The Wings face Folkestone in the Velocity Cup on Tuesday night (7.45pm), before Maxwell takes charge of his first league game away to Billericay on Saturday (3pm).