Ramsgate manager Ben Smith feeling the benefits of sharing the workload this season | 2,600 tickets sold for next month’s Thanet derby

Ben Smith feels he’s a better manager for sharing the workload at Ramsgate this season.

Smith has been happy to accept help from those around him at Southwood, including the likes of assistant boss Darren Beale.

It hasn’t been a strength of his in the past but Smith has learned from experience as he bids to land the Isthmian South East title.

He’s enjoyed success, leading Herne Bay to promotion via the play-offs and taking Ramsgate to the FA Cup second round for the first time in their history, along with a runners-up finish in the league.

But he’s learned to make the most of those closest to him and that’s only helped league leaders Rams in their championship bid.

“I use the team around me a bit more now,” said Smith.

“There was certainly a time - and it’s no fault of the people I’ve had with me in the past - where it was very much a case of ‘I’ll do it’, and I’d take on too much.

“I think sharing the load and trusting people a bit more has helped.

“I’ve had great people around me and sometimes I haven’t given them the trust they deserved.

“I’m not one of these managers where it’s my way or the highway, and I’m not a control freak, although sometimes I probably acted like I was, but that’s just wanting to win and prove I can do it and have a certain impact on things.

“Actually, sharing the load a little bit has worked really well this year and certainly I wish I’d done it earlier in my career as a manager.

“That comes from experience.

“I’m still relatively young as a manager, at 37.

“I’ve not done too badly in the past but I think you always want to see how you can improve.

“I have a fingerprint on everything, of course I do.

“That would be naive of me not to and naive of anyone to think I haven’t got a fingerprint on