Ramsgate FC have parted ways with manager Lee Martin, with the club citing his failure to fully utilise the playing budget as a key reason for his dismissal. The decision was confirmed in a club statement released on social media, despite Martin having achieved the primary objective of keeping the Isthmian Premier Division side in the division. Ramsgate currently sit tenth in the seventh-tier league, comfortably clear of the relegation zone.
The club's statement provided specific reasoning, pointing to a difficult recruitment period. "Due to a difficult recruitment period up until March, the budget allocated to players was not fully utilised over the last six weeks of the season," the club explained. "This period was reflected in our recent results, with six defeats in our last seven games, including this week's cup final." Martin had led Ramsgate to the final of the Isthmian League Cup, where they were defeated.
This marks the second time Lee Martin has been dismissed this season, having previously been sacked by fellow Isthmian Premier club Welling United. The 39-year-old, who began his playing career at Manchester United, made only a single first-team appearance for the Old Trafford club before a career that took him to Royal Antwerp, Rangers, and several Championship sides before his eventual move into non-league management.
The situation presents a rare and stark example of a manager being judged on financial metrics as much as sporting results. In the context of non-league football, where budgets are extremely tight and every pound counts, the board's decision underscores a business-first approach. The club has stated it will now begin the process of appointing a new first-team manager.
For Lee Martin, the dismissal adds a challenging chapter to his nascent coaching career after transitioning from a journeyman playing career. For Ramsgate, a club based just east of Canterbury, the search for a successor will likely focus on a figure who can balance on-field performance with proactive squad investment, as the club looks to build on its mid-table security.
