Joint-bosses Jim and Danny Ward are set for their first return to Whitstable on Tuesday since leaving Belmont at the end of last season for a third spell in charge at Ramsgate.

Adding spice to the Ryman League Division 1 South Kent derby is the fact that Simon Halsey, the man they replaced will be in the opposite dug-out, having replaced Will Graham earlier this month, following his resignation after a poor start to the season.

Former Herne Bay boss Halsey took over at Ramsgate last season, keeping them up against the odds, only to be overlooked for the job.

Chairman Gary Johnson rejected Danny Ward’s claim at the time that Whitstable lacked ambition, admitting he was “ absolutely gutted and disappointed” to lose them after only season, describing their return to Ramsgate as “the “worst kept secret in football”

Jim Ward is looking forward to going back saying: "I don’t want to go over old ground, it’s good to be going back -and shake a few hands, It was shame we left, but that’s football.

“They are good people at Whitstable, who know their stuff - we have just got to get the Ramsgate fans singing the way the fans do there.”

Striker Kane Rowland has become the latest Whitstable player to join Rams, but another, goalkeeper Luke Watkins is set to miss out with a knee injury, picked up in the 3-0 loss at Guernsey on Sunday.

Ward blamed individual mistakes for all three goals - the defeat costing them the chance of going second in the table, capping a disappointing and frustrating day which started badly and didn't get any better.

The Rams party who stayed overnight at Gatwick ahead of a scheduled 8.30am flight to the Channel Islands were delayed for two and a half hours after a bird hit another plane, with the 2pm kick-off having to be put back an hour.

Ward said: “ Three errors cost us, but I won’t use what happened as an excuse (for the performance).

"It was draining for the players to have sit around for so long, and everything is stacked in Guernsey’s favour in situations like that.”

Another ex-Oysterman Nick Treadwell is also set to miss out on a return with a foot injury.