Derby defeat proves final straw for Harry

December

Harry Wheeler’s reign as Maidstone United manager came to an end – just four months after taking charge.

A 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at Dover left the Stones secondbottom in the National League and proved the final straw.

Wheeler won two of his first three matches, but just one more victory followed in the next 12 – 2-0 at Barnet in November – and supporters lost patience with the 30-year-old, who also failed to win a home league game.

Stones chief executive Bill Williams said: “Let me be candid, this is not a situation any of us wanted to find ourselves in and I share the disappointment and responsibility for it.

“However, we now need everyone to pull together, in what are testing times for our club, as we do our damnedest to stay in this league.”

Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore revealed that abuse from the terraces made him consider walking off the pitch during a game.

Ashmore has been subjected to vile chants from opposition supporters at several matches this season.

He said: “It’s been hard this year, harder than ever.

“It’s very personal – I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Some of the stuff I get called is sickening.

“There’s only so many things you can take and it’s pushed me to the edge this season.

“At one game this season, I did fall out of love with the game and I did not want to play at all.

“I actually wanted to walk off the pitch because the abuse I was getting wasn’t nice at all. That’s how I felt. I’m a very passionate and honest guy but that really did hurt me deeply.”

Ashmore was in court last month to see the Eastleigh fan who racially abused him banned from his club and fined by magistrates.

But the following day he was abused again, at Boreham Wood, and jumped into the home end after the full-time whistle.

He said: “I reacted for the first time in my career. I’m not one to let it affect me but this time it did.”

The manager merry-go-round continued in the county with former Sittingbourne boss Thursday, January 3, 2019 Kentish Gazette (KG) Nick Davis taking on the role at Ramsgate, following Lloyd Blackman’s decision to leave Southwood.

Blackman had taken on the manager’s job at the Bostik South East club in January 2017 .

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally hit out at the critics who he believes are damaging the club.

Mr Scally issued a lengthy statement, largely in response to concerns from sponsors over what he described as ‘the unfair and unacceptable behaviour of a minority of fans’.

Further adjustments were made at Kent Cricket, with interim chief executive Ben Green leaving the county.

Green had been in the interim role since February 2018 after joining in 2017 as operations director.

The previous month Simon Storey was brought in as the new CEO with Green appointed as chief operating officer.

In the ring, Louis Greene was unsuccessful in his bid for the IBF European welterweight title at York Hall.

The 26-year-old from Strood, was beaten by defending champion Larry Ekundayo.