JIM Ward is back in charge of Kent League side Ramsgate FC, three years after leaving Southwood to take over Maidstone United.

Ward, sacked by Maidstone in December, confirmed that he had received several offers to return to the game, but opted to rejoin the Rams after receiving assurances that the club would be pushing for promotion next season and were looking at moving to a new ground.

Ward said: "I had a few offers but they weren't really what I was looking for. The reason I've gone back is because have been holding talks at the highest level with the council about moving to a new ground.

"We've got the youngest squad of players in the Kent League. The average age is 22 and they've certainly under-achieved this year. The budget is not full, but we'll be working on it."

Ward has won the Kent League with both Ramsgate and Maidstone, but on both occasions his sides were denied promotion for non-footballing reasons.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER