Chairman Gary Johnson has rejected Danny Ward’s claim that Whitstable Town lack ambition following the Ward brothers’ decision to return to Ramsgate.

Mr Johnson described it as the “worst kept secret in football” after the news was confirmed last week with the Wards departing after just one season in charge at The Belmont, the Oystermen’s chairman responded to Danny’s claims that the club lack ambition.

He said: “All Kent clubs are ambitious but some clubs have more money than others.

“We have a competitive budget but we have to live within our means. Naturally, some clubs will spend an awful lot more money than we are prepared to do but that doesn’t mean we are less ambitious.

"The club has been extremely loyal to the management team and all the playing squad, something rarely seen in football. What we promised at the start of the season was delivered throughout to the final day.”

Mr Johnson then admitted he was “absolutely gutted and disappointed” to learn that Danny Ward had also confirmed that five of this season’s Whitstable squad would be following him to Southwood.
Leading scorer Ian Pulman, midfielder Luke Girt and defensive trio Jake Mackenzie, Luke Doherty and Peter Wedgeworth will all be leaving The Belmont.

The chairman said: “From our point of view we’ve had another record-breaking season, with a great bunch of players and we would have liked to have kept them all together for next season."

He added an announcement regarding the identity of the club’s new manager within the next week or so.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S WHITSTABLE GAZETTE