Faversham appoint Piggott as first team coach

Paul Copley has pulled off a stunning transfer coup by naming Paul Piggott as Faversham's Town's first-team coach, writes James Brown.

Lilywhite boss Copley swooped after former Faversham Town goalkeeper Piggott stepped down as manager of Kent League Premier Division rivals Lordswood at the end of last season.

Piggott, 36, quit Martyn Grove after three years at the helm - including an unprecedented eighth place in 2006/2007 - claiming he had taken the Medway side as far as he could.

And Copley was thrilled to welcome him back to Salters Lane and complete an exciting backroom reshuffle ahead of the new campaign.

Bob Mason, 50, has switched from coach to assistant manager following the departure of Richard Hammond because of work commitments and Copley could not be happier with his new line-up.

Former Welling United defender Copley, 36 - speaking exclusively to www.favershamtownfc.co.uk - revealed:  "I'm absolutely delighted to announce Paul Piggott as our first-team coach.

"I said when I first became manager that I intend to provide the players with the best possible set-up behind the scenes and the signing of Paul is testament to this pledge.

"He has proved to be an outstanding coach during his time at Lordswood and his return to Salters Lane speaks volumes about Faversham's intentions for the new season.

"Paul started playing Kent League when he was 17 and his depth of knowledge when it comes to this level of football will be priceless.

"If you then factor in Bobby's time in the Kent League as well as my own then you are talking about more 70 years of experience in a management team with an average age of 41.

"Now that's pretty impressive by anyone's standards."

Copley rejects the idea that Piggott is taking a step backwards by becoming coach of a club that finished just one place ahead of a Lordswood side he managed.

For the Faversham Town boss insists it will be all for one and one for all in the Salters Lane dugout next season.

He explained: "I know people will say that this is a step down from Lordswood but, with respect to them, I feel this is a step up for Paul.

"Although he will assume the title of coach here, that does not fully explain just how key he will be to our set-up next season.

"I'm going to be blessed with some fantastic football people alongside me and it would be foolish to straitjacket anyone.

"We, as a three, will work as a collective to bring success to this club and I cannot wait for pre-season."

Mason is looking forward to working alongside the man he played with at Salters Lane under Hughie Stinson in the late 1990s.

He revealed: "I believe this appointment shows how serious we are about taking this club forward.

"And it's a massive coup for everyone at Faversham Town that we have managed to attract a football man of Paul Piggott's calibre.

"He comes to us with a wealth of experience having managed Lordswood for the past three seasons and has played Kent League since the age of 17.

"I played with Piggy at Faversham for a couple of seasons and I'm thrilled he has agreed to join us as a member of our management team.

"He enjoyed his time at Salters Lane before and knows exactly what the people of Faversham are about. It's a great signing."

Copley believes his new-look backroom team and the ongoing improvements at Salters Lane will help attract quality new recruits this summer.

He explained: "What we have now is a first-class club, with first-class facilities and now a first-class backroom team which will again feature our totally professional physios Gary Metcalfe and Natalie Bell who have signed up for next season too.

"Pre-season training starts on Saturday, 30 June and all players will have fitness, diet and nutrition assessments throughout the close season.

"Our aim is to have these guys fit and staying fit right the way through the season.

"I challenge anyone to show me a Kent League team that'll be better prepared than Faversham Town.

"It seems to me that too much emphasis is put on players signing for clubs that offer the most money. I don't believe this to be true.

"I've said before and can re-affirm my point in the wake of Paul's signing - a lot of players will want to be involved with this club next season. We offer so much more that an over-inflated wage packet."