Binks keep faiths faith with local players in their new surroundings - EXCLUSIVE

CHATHAM TOWN have joined newly promoted side Thamesmead Town by saying that they’re looking forward to life in Ryman One North next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

This website broke the news story first on Wednesday night that the Football Association have one again re-jigged the pyramid system.

Steve Binks, the manager of Chatham Town, said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he accepts the decision to switch the Medway side into new surroundings.

Chatham Town are not the only side to face new challenges when the new campaign kick’s off on 16^th August.

“If you look at the moves, I mean, the FA have obviously got a difficult job to do,” said Binks.

“There’s a lot of clubs that are, whether you draw the lines, geography boundaries, there’s always going to be clubs on the edges of those boundaries.

“Chatham, like Dartford, are one of those clubs around those boundaries.”

Tony Burman’s Darts were switched against their will last summer but went on to clinch the Ryman One North title - joining Southern Division winners Dover Athletic - in the premier.

Binks added: “So it’s a sort of fact of life, we’ve got to live with. An opportunity to play a number of new teams in the north that we have never met before.”

Following Dartford’s switch last year, the Princes Park outfit were tipped as favourites to clinch the title, which they did, but Binks believes the cream will always rise to the top.

He said: “To get promoted from either the north or the south you’ve got to be geared up for (Ryman) Premiership football and I’m sure the sides vying for top of the north will be very strong opposition.”

But Binks revealed some good news with regards to team personnel, without mentioning any names.

“I’m optimistic that the majority of players will stay,” he said. “I’m talking to them at the moment.

“We’ve got a presentation night tomorrow night so I’ll talk to them then and I’m in the process of signing players.

“As far as I’m concerned we finished the season well last year, playing some good football, and I can’t wait for the season to start - to hopefully start where we left off.”

Chatham should, however, play promoted Kent League double winners Thamesmead Town as their only Kent derby next season - missing out on Ashford Town, Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta, Sittingbourne and Whitstable Town.

“It will be a shame not to be playing the local derbies against the likes of Sittingbourne, Ashford and Whitstable but as (chairman) Jeff (Talbot) says we’ve still got the FA Cup, FA Trophy and League Cup.

“It will be fantastic to have a run in the Cups, which will benefit us enormously.”

But I’m sure that both Thamesmead and Chatham will do well in their new surroundings next season and join those Kent giants in the Ryman Premier.

“I think it will be a very difficult achievement to try to get promoted into the premier, where some lucrative Kent derbies await,” said Binks.

“We’ve lost our most lucrative derbies against Maidstone, Dover and Dartford, through their promotions.

“The big thing we miss out on are Sittingbourne and Whitstable.

“It’s a fact of life, we’ve got to get on with it. There’s no point harping on about it or complaining. It’s a fact of life.”

But Binks aims to follow in the foot steps of Jim Ward at Ryman Premier League side Ramsgate.

He explained: “Ramsgate have done a fantastic job, developing and playing local people.

“I think Chatham will benefit from our youth policy and (players will) feel part of the area.

“I’m not obviously shutting the door to people outside the Medway towns as we’ve always had a lot of players from wider areas.

“But I think we can do Ramsgate and get the players from the Medway towns, it helps with the team spirit and camaraderie.”

Binks has confirmed three pre-season friendlies already, “and a number of other clubs pending.”

They start off with a friendly away to Kent League side Faversham Town (31^st July) before welcoming Ryman Premier League sides Maidstone United (5^th August) and Hastings United (9^th August) to their Maidstone Road ground.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net