Ashford FC add to Management Team

Ashford FC have appointed two new members to their First Team management set-up as the club set about preparing for the new season, whenever that will be.

The Steamers haven’t played since the FA followed the government’s social distancing guidelines at the start of March and since then the Kent County Football League have announced that the 2019/20 season will be classed as null and void.

But that hasn’t stopped current manager Lee James and assistant manager Ryan Mills from adding to their management team as they prepare for an assault on the Division One East Championship title next season. Jon Wright has joined the men’s set-up on a full-time basis after announcing his departure as manager at Canterbury City Reserves last week, having already been involved at the club as coach of Ashford’s successful East Kent Youth League under-8 team. Wright has been appointed as joint first team manager alongside James having previously helped out with some coaching towards the end of last season following the departures of both Graham Prior and Did Williams, and will now get more involved with both coaching and player recruitment.

Wright, who was previously both Chairman and head of youth football at former Kent County League side AFC Ashford Athletic, was appointed as manager at Canterbury City Reserves back in November and guided them to fifth place in Division Three East with four wins and three draws from his ten league fixtures in charge. Assistant manager Ryan Mills will continue to work alongside both James and Wright.

Also completing the line up is former Hythe Town and Whitstable Town player Craig (Charlie) Southen who joins the management team having worked previously with James at Willesborough Athletic. Southen will take on the role as Coach assisting the management team on match days and his experience is seen as vital to help the club push on for further honours next season.

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