Ramsgate haven't had to look far for their new manager.

Defender Jamie Coyle has taken charge following Steve Lovell's shock sacking this week.

He inherits a team third in Isthmian South East, two points behind leaders Chatham, with 15 games to go.

Rams were second when Lovell was axed on Monday morning but dropped a place after Beckenham's midweek win over Chats.

Coyle's first match is at home to play-off contenders Littlehampton on Saturday.

The 39-year-old has previously been player-manager at Welling and joint-manager at Dartford, where he narrowly missed out on the National South play-offs in his first season.

He was assistant manager to Jay Saunders at Thanet rivals Margate before joining Rams in a playing capacity shortly before the start of last season.

The centre-half's been a major influence on the pitch in Rams' promotion challenge and the club's board believe he can have a similar impact as manager.

"I think, short-term, we have to try and improve our form," said Coyle.

"Over the last six to eight games we've dropped slightly, so I want to tweak that.

"I want to get the confidence back in the boys because we've got one of the best, if not the best, squads in the league.

"I know the players inside-out. I know them as team-mates and I've seen them away from football and we've got a real honest, hardworking bunch here and they just want success for the football club, as I do."

Former boss Lovell was sacked in a phone call from chairman James Lawson after a 2-0 defeat at Three Bridges last weekend saw them lose top spot.

“The chairman rang me and said they wanted to go in a different direction,” said Lovell. “That was basically it.

“I’ve had no proper explanation.

“We’ve been top all season; I’ve been manager-of-the-month for the last two months.

“It’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me in football, because it’s not something you say should happen."