Ramsgate have appointed Matt Longhurst as their new manager.

The former East Grinstead boss was appointed on Monday night just a day after the departures of the previous management team of Jason Lillis, Terry Sedge and Joe Radford.

That trio – only appointed in early October – left in the wake of Ramsgate's 7-0 defeat at Sittingbourne on Saturday, a result which leaves the Thanet club one off the bottom of Isthmian South East with just two wins from 18 matches.

Longhurst was sacked as manager of bottom club East Grinstead earlier this month having been in charge for four years.

He has also previously managed Erith & Belvedere and Corinthian, and had a brief spell as assistant boss at Hastings.

Longhurst's coaching team at Southwood will include local men Seb Tidey and Liam Taylor, with Ramsgate chairman James Lawson describing Longhurst as the 'standout candidate' among a number of 'fantastic applications'.

Mr Lawson told the club's website: "In just a short space of time we have had a number of fantastic applications, many of which were from the top echelons of Thanet football who have been galvanised by our drive to promote young local footballers.

“I will speak to them all in the coming days and extend an invitation to become part of our set up.

"It's talented local people like these that will help us achieve our long term goal of helping young players in this area become the best footballers that they can be.

“In the immediate term, we are in a relegation battle and are in a position to move quickly having conducted an extensive recruitment process just a couple of months ago in which Matt was a standout candidate.

“Not only does he support our long term goals, but more importantly he knows this league extensively.

"We represent an opportunity to apply his skills to a club with greater resources than he has previously worked with.

“I was delighted when Matt highlighted that he felt it was important that we install a coaching team around him from the local area. "There are very few people who know local players better than A-Licence coach Seb Tidey – he has trained many of them for a number of years.

“Likewise, with Liam, until recently he was our under-23 manager and has been instrumental in the development of a very talented group of local players.

“As a club we would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jason Lillis, Terry Sedge Joe Radford.

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"It should be recognised that Jason and his management team acted with professionalism and dignity throughout a time of transition at the club.

“There are always differences of opinion in football but the future at this club is exciting and it's vital that we all unite behind our new management and support our team.”

Longhurst will take charge for the first time when the Rams host VCD Athletic on Saturday.

Ramsgate are six points clear of East Grinstead who dismissed Longhurst after failing to win any of their opening 14 league matches.

The previous season he had guided them to 13th, the highest placing in the club's history.

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