By Alex Hoad

Sittingbourne are in the process of speaking to potential new managers, according to chairman Andy Spice.

Current boss Joe Dowley is stepping aside after seven months at the helm to concentrate on his playing career and Bourne are now being linked with out-of work former Ryman League managers Jim Ward, who left Ramsgate last week, and Marc Seager, who stood-in for Dowley when he was unavailable for four games last month.

Bourne mathematically ensured they would avoid relegation from Ryman League Division 1 South despite a sixth defeat in seven, 3-1 at home to Godalming on Saturday. The defeat left them with a sorry record of just six points from a possible 57 since Christmas.

Dowley took over the reins after newly-installed boss Richard Brady left to take over at Leatherhead at the end of September, just six weeks after taking over himself.

However after winning Dowley’s first game in charge against Whitstable, Bourne have only won three league games since and are third-bottom in the table ahead of Saturday’s final game at Walton & Hersham.

Mr Spice (pictured) said: "We have spoken to a couple of people about the manager’s job. If we don’t make an appointment in the next couple of weeks then we might well talk to others and advertise, but for now we are talking to good ones and we are very pleased with what we’ve heard so far."