Former Ebbsfleet United manager Kevin Watson is named new boss of Billericay Town

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 14:31, 07 January 2021

Updated: 21:28, 07 January 2021

Former Ebbsfleet United manager Kevin Watson is back in football - after being named boss of a rival National League South side.

Watson has taken over at Billericay Town, who sit 17th in National League South with 11 points from 12 games.

Former Fleet boss Kevin Watson. Picture: Chris Davey

Former Billericay boss Jamie O'Hara, like Watson a former Tottenham Hotspur player, left the Essex outfit at the start of last month.

Watson will work alongside Tristan Lewis, who was also his assistant boss at Ebbsfleet. Lewis previously served Billericay under the tenure of Harry Wheeler.

At the Fleet, Watson took over from Garry Hill after Fleet's slow start in the National League last season. He steered the club to the verge of safety but the first national lockdown and the use of points per game meant the Fleet were moved back into the bottom three by 0.02 points and 'relegated' to National League South.

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Watson's deal with Ebbsfleet was not renewed in the summer with the club bringing in German boss Dennis Kutrieb. His former club are 11th in National League South with 16 points from 12 games.

Billericay said they had around 50 candidates for the role.

A club statement added: "Billericay have pleasure in announcing that Kevin Watson has been appointed as our men’s first team manager with immediate effect. Kevin brings a wealth of playing, coaching and managerial experience to the club.

"He shares our one club vision and the board’s ambitions for Billericay. Kevin will be joined by Tristan Lewis as assistant manager.

Former Fleet boss Kevin Watson, left, and Tristan Lewis have taken over at National League South rivals Billericay. Picture: Matthew Walker (43870066)

"We’d like to thank the high calibre of candidates that applied for their interest in Billericay and, in several cases, taking the time to talk to us.

"We firmly believe that in Kevin we have found a manager that can take us forward and make us all proud to be part of the Billericay family."

Billericay visit Eastbourne on Saturday and then Dartford on Tuesday night. Watson will get the chance to manage against Ebbsfleet at Stonebridge Road, with Fleet due to host Billericay on April 5.