Ramsgate boss Ady Pennock salutes chairman James Lawson after winning approval to switch first-team training to Danny Kedwell’s Kedbull Leisure in Northfleet

Ramsgate boss Ady Pennock has thanked his chairman for backing a big move this summer.

Pennock has relocated first-team training away from their Southwood ground to Gravesend.

It’s a move that has got the blessing of Ramsgate chairman James Lawson.

“I said the reason why to the chairman and he was all for it,” explained Pennock. “He was all for it straight away.

“It’s just to spread the net out more and it wasn't to upset anybody at Ramsgate, especially with the players that were already there.

“They were fully on board with it when I spoke to them as well. To be fair, there were some London-based boys who played for Ramsgate last season.

“We’ve got some local lads that live in Ramsgate but they’re all on board. They’re really behind it and understand that we need to spread the net out more.”

It helped get a deal for Essex-based Cameron James over the line last week.

“Where we’ve moved to training to Gravesend, that was a key factor,” added Pennock.

“As Cameron lives in Essex, it shows we’re spreading the net out and we can get players in from London or Essex.

“I really want to thank the chairman for getting the deal done.”

Ramsgate will be based at Kedbull Leisure in Northfleet, a facility owned by former Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon striker Danny Kedwell.

Pennock signed Kedwell for Welling United from Herne Bay in 2005, and was a major influence in his career.

“Obviously, me and Dan go back a long way from the Welling days when I got him in from Herne Bay,” Pennock said.

“Dan has done a really good favour for me and they’re really good facilities that will only get better as well.”

Pennock believes a training base away from the Kent coast will help Ramsgate take the next step in their development up the non-league