Matt Longhurst has backed Bradley Ryan to come good after the former Chelsea under-23 midfielder left Ramsgate.

Ryan only joined Rams in December after walking away from a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The ex-Welling teenager has now dropped another two levels to play for Snodland Town in Division 1 of the Southern Counties East League, making his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Croydon on Saturday.

“We let him go,” said Rams manager Longhurst. “He needs to be playing regular football and we couldn’t guarantee that.

“He’ll come again because he’s a good footballer.

"If he keeps his head right he can comfortably end up playing in the Football League but he needs to play regularly and he’s dropped a couple of levels to go and do that.

“I think he found it hard at Chelsea because he wasn’t playing a lot, he wasn’t playing much here and, to be honest, he’s a kid who loves playing football who just wants to be on the pitch.

“It’s of no benefit to him being on our bench. We parted on good terms. He’s just desperate to play. You can’t knock the lad.”