Ramsgate player-coach Lee Martin is keen to return to management following his short stint at Welling.

Martin was sacked after only 13 games in charge of the Wings - but it hasn’t put him off.

He won two of his 10 league matches, leaving Park View Road with the club in the Isthmian Premier relegation zone.

It was always going to be a difficult first job in management, with a big rebuild required following relegation from National League South.

But Martin, 38, had little time to get things right and was replaced by former boss Rod Stringer, initially in a caretaker capacity, at the start of October.

Martin has since returned to Ramsgate, where he was a key part of the side who won the Isthmian South East title last season, taking on a player-coach role.

He’s enjoying working under Rams boss Ben Smith - the pair having an excellent relationship - but the chance to be a No.1 again one day appeals.

“I would love to get back into management but it would have to be the right people, in the right environment,” said Martin.

“It’s so important when you come into something, you need to have that relationship with people where you know you are there for the long-term.

“You can’t tell me that 10/12 games, with a whole new squad, and a limited budget in this league, is long enough.

“I still think you need six months to see where you’re at.

“With the project we were walking into, it was never going to happen overnight.

“The style of play they wanted was there but, with that, the last thing that comes is results.

“We didn’t overplay by any means but we played with a purpose and wanted to play progressive football.

“Our budget was low to mid-table and it was tough at times.

“Trying to gel a whole new group together is nigh-on impossible. It was tough but you win one and there’s four comments and you lose one and there’s 24.

“It was never going to be easy for anyone walking in there.

“There was definitely an agenda, or a narrative, being pushed that my face didn’t fit for whatever reason, and they were quick to want to change that.

“It was disappointing but you go again.

“It’s not put me off but the next choice would have to be the right club with the right personnel because you need to be around football people that understand it.”

There were certainly easier first jobs out there as Martin attempted to lift the “rain cloud” over Park View Road following Welling’s relegation.

He was up for the challenge and while, in his words, he “failed”, there were mitigating factors.

“I learned a lot,” said Martin, who started Ramsgate’s 2-2 Isthmian Premier draw against Carshalton on Saturday, going off injured before half-time.

“A lot of stuff wasn’t in my control, I’ll be honest with you.

“There were tweaks in the budget and things like that which went against me.

“At the time, we were asking for certain things that weren’t being delivered, so it’s always difficult.

“The squad they have now, that was kind of what we were trying to get, but it came at the wrong time and ultimately we only got one or two games with those players.

“When we first there, we had an 18-year-old goalkeeper, a 17-year-old left-back, an 18-year-old centre-half, and we wondered why we weren’t winning games of football.

“You need experienced pros to guide you, you need that right balance, but experienced boys cost money.

“We had three games where we had 10 men and three games where there were penalties given that were questionable, to say the least. That’s football.

“They say it evens out over the course of the season but sometimes you don’t get that and I certainly didn’t after 10 league games.

“When we sat down it was a project - that’s why I agreed to it.

“We had a two-year plan but, unfortunately, the club had a rain cloud over it from when it got relegated, it was always going to be tough and we couldn’t hit the ground running.

“It wasn’t for the want of trying, we tried our hardest, we got close, we were losing games narrowly, but they showed they wanted to go a different route, or back to the same route (by reappointing Stringer).

“I failed, but I can wear that, I’m happy with that.

“There were a lot of things going on behind the scenes that people won’t realise.

“But I loved every minute of it in terms of what we were trying to create there.”

TJ Jadama and Joe Taylor scored midway through the second half as Ramsgate came from a goal down at the break to lead Carshalton 2-1 but the visitors snatched a point in the 89th minute.

Rams gave debuts to Ian Gayle and Henry Lukombo, who have signed from Lewes and on loan from Dover respectively, while Josh Ajayi appeared from the bench after starting his third spell at Southwood.

Defender Jerome Binnom-Williams has been released.

Ramsgate, in 13th, will visit ninth-placed Aveley this Saturday (3pm), looking for a first league win in six games.

Sign up to our Non-league Football newsletter and you can enjoy all the best bits from KentOnline every week direct to your inbox! To sign up, click here