We have to put our faith in the Board members that sat through the interview process and made the unanimous decision. Only they knew who the other candidates were and what they both offered and expected.
Ben knows and is known by the club. He has close ties to the academy. He knows the board and he knows the regular volunteers that work so hard at the ground. He knows our history and he knows how high our expectations are. The statement issued by Margate indicates that they were happy for him to have another season to bring them promotion. That may have been an easier task than the one that he has now chosen.
It will be interesting to see who is on the retain list and what new recruits appear during the summer season.
I think we mostly agree that we needed a change. It did not happen in the manner that we expected, but it happened. I wish Ben well in his new role and hope that he has a very successful time as manager of Dartford Football Club.
New Manager
Moderator: Gary C
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DartfordHero
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:03 pm
Re: New Manager
I wasnt thrilled by this announcement but listening to that full interview he is saying all the right things and he deserves the chance that the board has given him. I do think it'll have been a hard season for whoever came into the club as the money from the leagues is filtering further and further down and even coming up through the leagues below us. As much as Princes Park can be rocking when we are playing well and winning those big games, it can also be a very toxic environment when things arent going well so hopefully more positive vibes than negative this season
Re: New Manager
If he can get through 10 games without whining about the budget, I'll pin his picture on my wall.
Re: New Manager
Lets hope so, it would be the first time in just over four years.....Spike wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 4:27 pm If he can get through 10 games without whining about the budget, I'll pin his picture on my wall.
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ozymandias
- Posts: 1318
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2021 4:35 pm
Re: New Manager
I hope the lad has something up his sleeve and pulls this off. I don't know what his contacts are. I am assuming he's bringing in his team??
But to be honest I wasn't over the moon.
My pal at Ramsgate commented 'Oh dear'. But then there is a love/hate relationship between the two clubs. He also says that the Ram's may be looking at a couple of our players. Which isn't surprising.
I must admit, my Warrilow prediction was closer than a lot on here and it was tongue in cheek.
But to be honest I wasn't over the moon.
My pal at Ramsgate commented 'Oh dear'. But then there is a love/hate relationship between the two clubs. He also says that the Ram's may be looking at a couple of our players. Which isn't surprising.
I must admit, my Warrilow prediction was closer than a lot on here and it was tongue in cheek.
Re: New Manager
Having supported the Darts for 73 years I have seen or come across most situations in those seasons good bad or different and it goes for managers too.
Too old to understand which managers were in contention this time around and not knowing what was on offer to them, I can only hope that the board have made the right choice and I am prepared to accept our new manager and no doubt purchase my season ticket
My thoughts on this may change depending on when I hear who has re-signed for us along with new signings.
Too old to understand which managers were in contention this time around and not knowing what was on offer to them, I can only hope that the board have made the right choice and I am prepared to accept our new manager and no doubt purchase my season ticket
My thoughts on this may change depending on when I hear who has re-signed for us along with new signings.
Re: New Manager
We are a club on a downward spiral so this appointment is a huge gamble. However , Ben is a good player and his heart is in the right place as regards DFC and if we play as he describes in his first interview then hopefully he will be a success and the fans will come back to PP.
The Board should now concentrate on a dialogue and ACTIONS to get the young fans back in the stadium. There is such a thing as good stewarding and if carried out should avoid the need for knee jerk Board reactions.
I hope we do not need to talk about the Board in the coming season.
The Board should now concentrate on a dialogue and ACTIONS to get the young fans back in the stadium. There is such a thing as good stewarding and if carried out should avoid the need for knee jerk Board reactions.
I hope we do not need to talk about the Board in the coming season.
Re: New Manager
I’m fairly pleased with this appointment. It is a gamble of sorts, but short of getting a PL manager in, isn’t any appointment? Ben has great rapport with fans, is erudite and knows what this club is / should be. Just need to know how to say his name…
Re: New Manager
Well worth the gamble, if indeed that's what it is.
He's done good work in the academy, managed a lower league club with some success so a move to an underachieving club in a higher league seems like a natural progression to me.
Young hungry home grown manager - what more could you ask for.
Far better than considering an ex player with no experience or an old under achiever.
Welcome Ben and good luck for the coming season.
He's done good work in the academy, managed a lower league club with some success so a move to an underachieving club in a higher league seems like a natural progression to me.
Young hungry home grown manager - what more could you ask for.
Far better than considering an ex player with no experience or an old under achiever.
Welcome Ben and good luck for the coming season.
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The 5th Searcher
- Posts: 873
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:08 am
Re: New Manager
Although I’ve already said I’m not happy with this appointment I may be being a bit harsh and unfair to Ben but I was hoping for a higher level of quality manager.
We have to give Ben a fair chance to see how he gets on, what players he retains & new players he signs and then see how things go both pre season and the first 10 or so games of the season.
He’s always done very well with the academy teams in developing them and turning them into football playing teams that can win things and his record at Margate has been ok so fingers crossed he can turn things around for us and turn us into an on the deck footballing side again which can hopefully start to win things again.
Plus we are more likely to start seeing some wingers back at the club again which we haven’t seen for a while now apart from Evan that joined us back end of the season.
A big thing is going to be who he will bring in as his assistant and backroom team. If the names mentioned to me are right then I will await the comments and possible fireworks.
Today is a fresh start and let’s see how things go but I think Ben knows he’s got a big challenge ahead of him probably starting from tonight as he starts to have chats with players.
We have to give Ben a fair chance to see how he gets on, what players he retains & new players he signs and then see how things go both pre season and the first 10 or so games of the season.
He’s always done very well with the academy teams in developing them and turning them into football playing teams that can win things and his record at Margate has been ok so fingers crossed he can turn things around for us and turn us into an on the deck footballing side again which can hopefully start to win things again.
Plus we are more likely to start seeing some wingers back at the club again which we haven’t seen for a while now apart from Evan that joined us back end of the season.
A big thing is going to be who he will bring in as his assistant and backroom team. If the names mentioned to me are right then I will await the comments and possible fireworks.
Today is a fresh start and let’s see how things go but I think Ben knows he’s got a big challenge ahead of him probably starting from tonight as he starts to have chats with players.
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Lars Resort
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2023 8:22 pm
Re: New Manager
I don't know how old Ben is as putting himself out there on the pitch if it comes to it. But he is very good at dead ball situations around the 18 yard box.
But we have to give him the backing.
But we have to give him the backing.
Re: New Manager
The 5th Searcher wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 5:57 pm Although I’ve already said I’m not happy with this appointment I may be being a bit harsh and unfair to Ben but I was hoping for a higher level of quality manager.
We have to give Ben a fair chance to see how he gets on, what players he retains & new players he signs and then see how things go both pre season and the first 10 or so games of the season.
He’s always done very well with the academy teams in developing them and turning them into football playing teams that can win things and his record at Margate has been ok so fingers crossed he can turn things around for us and turn us into an on the deck footballing side again which can hopefully start to win things again.
Plus we are more likely to start seeing some wingers back at the club again which we haven’t seen for a while now apart from Evan that joined us back end of the season.
A big thing is going to be who he will bring in as his assistant and backroom team. If the names mentioned to me are right then I will await the comments and possible fireworks.
Today is a fresh start and let’s see how things go but I think Ben knows he’s got a big challenge ahead of him probably starting from tonight as he starts to have chats with players.
Surely he isn’t bringing flanagan with him
Re: New Manager
Wait and see....WillDfc42 wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 6:17 pmThe 5th Searcher wrote: Thu May 07, 2026 5:57 pm Although I’ve already said I’m not happy with this appointment I may be being a bit harsh and unfair to Ben but I was hoping for a higher level of quality manager.
We have to give Ben a fair chance to see how he gets on, what players he retains & new players he signs and then see how things go both pre season and the first 10 or so games of the season.
He’s always done very well with the academy teams in developing them and turning them into football playing teams that can win things and his record at Margate has been ok so fingers crossed he can turn things around for us and turn us into an on the deck footballing side again which can hopefully start to win things again.
Plus we are more likely to start seeing some wingers back at the club again which we haven’t seen for a while now apart from Evan that joined us back end of the season.
A big thing is going to be who he will bring in as his assistant and backroom team. If the names mentioned to me are right then I will await the comments and possible fireworks.
Today is a fresh start and let’s see how things go but I think Ben knows he’s got a big challenge ahead of him probably starting from tonight as he starts to have chats with players.
Surely he isn’t bringing flanagan with him