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Ross Wiles is thrilled to have been handed the chance to manage a Step 5 side.
The former Sheppey United head of youth has taken over as joint-manager of Southern Counties East Premier Division Lordswood following Nicky Southall’s departure and will work alongside Lee Garlinge. The pair will be assisted by first-team coach Sam Wilson.
Wiles previously worked at Lordswood under Southall before leaving a month ago. When the call came to return, he jumped at the chance.
The first game in charge was Tuesday night’s 3-1 Challenge Cup win at Bearsted with two-goal Elliott Duncan and new signing Aaron Simpson scoring. Holmesdale are the visitors to Martyn Grove in the league this Saturday.
Wiles said: “Sheppey was in my blood, it’s the only club I’d been at, but I came over to Lordswood and fell in love. I am a loyal guy and I feel like I need to help the chairman out and try and get them to where they should be.”
Wiles was instrumental in building up the youth section at Sheppey and briefly took over first-team duties when Jack Midson departed in July 2023. At the time, he was unable to take on the full-time role due to family commitments.
That brief spell in charge gave him a taster, however, and he’s delighted to get another chance now he’s able to put his full commitment into the job.
He said: “Sheppey gave me my break, I owe a lot to them.
“It’s nice that Lordswood have shown a bit of trust in me to bring me back. They have worked with me and seen what I’ve done, they wanted to get me back.
“I am a massive believer in the team, you are only as good as your coaches and the people around you and when I sat back and had a look at it I thought, ‘who do I need to bring in to get this club firing?’ Lee was right at the top of the list.
“I was happy he accepted it and that we got to have a conversation. What an opportunity this is, for someone like myself who has come from a predominately youth background and gone into 23s football, this is the next step and to be given an opportunity at step five, it’s great.
“I completely back myself. It’s not arrogant or anything. Whatever I do I am 100% in, whether that’s the gardening or football, I will spend more hours than most on it.
“We’ve kept Sam Wilson, he is a good guy. I brought Sam in at the beginning of the season. If you get the right team around you it makes life a lot easier. With Sam and Lee by my side we’re now looking to build a team and move forward.”
Southern Counties East Premier Division table
Wiles remains an under-11 coach at Sheppey. He had plenty of success at The Ites, with league titles at under-18 and under-23 level.
Having already worked at Lordswood, he knows much of the squad already.
He said: “There are a few things we need to change, on and off the field, that is evident.
“I don’t want to say everyone will get a clean slate, I would be lying. I know most of the boys and I had a say in them coming in. I won’t be coming in and wielding the axe but they are grown men, they should be doing better than they are.
“I believe in being open and honest. I will talk to the players, but it’s just football, not personal. I am paid to do a job and represent Lordswood, if it upsets people, makes people happy, it is just the nature of the game.
“The biggest thing for me is the team and the boys, it is important that we enjoy it. I do believe that you get more from a footballer who is enjoying it.
“I have brought someone in who I have known for a long time in Lee Garlinge. We always used to be fierce competitors and it will be nice to share the sidelines with him.
“He is someone that I trust and someone that will do really well. He’s a local lad, he gets that love and feeling for the local club and there is nothing like doing something for your local club.”
Wiles and Garlinge take on a team sitting third from bottom in the SCEFL Premier Division with a third of the season gone so there’s plenty of time to turn things around.
The new joint-boss said: “Whatever job I go into, I am not there to make up the numbers, hopefully my team will reflect it.
“There is still a long way to go and we are only in the middle of November. You can move up the table quickly but I am not naive enough to know it works the other way as well.
“First of all, let’s get a good brand of football there, let’s build some relationships, let’s get some smiles on faces and go out there and try and win some games of football.
“At the end of the day if we give our all and we fall short we can look in the mirror and say ‘we’ve had a real good go’. At the minimum, I want to be pushing up that table, we’re not where we should be, that is a fact.
“I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder at what’s going on below us, that needs to change.
“We are there to enjoy the football but the boys do get paid, they are there to do a job. Myself and Lee are there to make sure they do that.”
