JIM Ward has been sacked as manager of Maidstone United following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Bitton in the FA Vase.

Ward, who won five trophies during two and a half years at the club, was fired after a meeting with the board on Monday.

Chairman Paul Bowden Brown said: "This has been a very difficult decision but after careful consideration the board have decided that Jim has taken the club as far as he can."

Coach Mal Watkins has been named caretaker manager. His first game in charge will be on Wednesday night, when the Stones entertain Folkestone Invicta at Bourne Park, in the Kent Senior Cup.

The position will be advertised nationally, but Bowden Brown said that several high profile names are already interested in the job.

Ward won the Kent League title with Maidstone in 2001/2002, but the Stones could only finish second last year, missing out on promotion to the Southern League. His overall record with Maidstone in competitive games is played 106, won 68, drawn 22 and lost 16.

FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S KENT MESSENGER