Miles rues bad luck with cup draws - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The Medway side have drawn half their eight Ryman League Division One South games so far this season.

Manager Phil Miles has already named his squad ahead of tonight’s training session as they prepare to play a club that reached three successive FA Vase finals. 

However, the Suffolk club’s hopes of landing the silverware were dashed, losing to Brigg Town (2-1) in 2003, Winchester City (2-0) and Didcot Town (3-2).

 Miles will be without Ian Pulman, whose attending his brothers wedding in Las Vagas and is away for a week, and left-sided winger Ross Finn needs an operation on his knee and is expected to be on the sidelines for at least eight weeks.
 
And Jack Roberts, whose on loan from Gravesend & Northfleet, needs clearance from the Nationwide Conference club in order to play.
 
But Miles hopes his side will be able to rise to the mantle and knock out their opponents.
 
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.  “I’m sure it will be a good game.  They will be a strong, good side, like us.

”Obviously the statistics show we’re not having the best of luck in front of goal, but I’m sure the fortunes will change as we are working hard, and no doubt we’ll start knocking the goals in.”
 
But Miles explained he’s happy with his side picking up points, but would like his side to turn stalemates into three points.
 
He said: “I’m trying to get into the lads that if there are games we can’t win, don’t’ get beat.  If we have to draw 15 games we will do.  But if you can’t win a game you don’t get beat.

”They’ve taken to my word and games we can’t win we draw.  Hopefully we can turn draws into wins and take us where I believe where we should be.”
 
The Football Association’s telephone lines will be busy on Saturday afternoon as not only are there FA Trophy ties taking place up and down the country, the FA Vase enters the first round proper, and at Old Trafford England tackle Macedonia at 5pm.
 
Miles, however, insists his players remain focused on their game before Steve McLaren’s side take to the pitch, but surely the game’s top brass could have helped our non-league clubs more by putting back the England match to 8pm. 
 
“To be fair we will be focused on our game,” insisted the Chatham boss.  “I’m sure England can take care about themselves.
 
“We’re not worried about the England game but we need to concentrate on what we’re doing from one o’clock to five o’clock.
 
“But we’ll be concentrating on what we need to do and watch the England game after a good performance by us.”
 
Club’s can take advantage of lucrative prize money in the FA Cup, but prize money in the Trophy and Vase is not as high as it can be.
 
“Obviously the FA Cup is the one,” said Miles.  “The club as a whole, the committee like us to have a good run in the FA Cup.
 
“Unfortunately the result at Winchester was very disappointing, being 3-0 up and losing 4-3.
 
“A club like Chatham relies on the influx of cup games.  We didn’t make any money from the FA Cup but we need to have a good Trophy run.
 
“It’s good for the players, we haven’t won for a few games, so it’s nice to win.
 
“The draws to be fair haven’t been kind to us.  We’ve got Dover, Winchester was a tricky and tough one and AFC Sudbury.  The bonus is we are at home.
 
Chatham are currently sitting in fifteenth place in the table, winning just one of their first eight league outings, but Miles wants to stabilise the Medway side in their new surroundings having switched from the Southern League during the close season.
 
He said: “The main object is to do well in this league, stabilise ourselves this year and try to improve the squad for next year.

”This is the league to be in, we can’t afford to drop down, the league is our priority.”
 
Miles admitted that he didn’t know much about their opponents, but added: “I’m expecting them to be a big, strong footballing side.
 
“But I know with the ability of my team we can beat any team, if we are right and play well.”
 
Miles, however, whose put in official seven-day approaches for three players, wants to avoid the 144 mile round trip to the King’s Marsh Stadium, Brundon Lane for any midweek replay.

”Obviously a replay would not be good for us as we’ll have to travel there midweek.
 
“I’m not seeing it as a draw on Saturday.  We’ll go out there positive and try to do a job on Saturday.
 
“If it goes to a replay we’ll deal with it but I’m confident we can go out there and get the right result.”
 
Miles added his club will welcome any Gillingham fans not wanting to travel up to Crewe to see their team in League One action.
 
“It would be good to see some Gillingham fans here,” he said.  “I’m sure they will see some entertainment at Chatham if they don’t fancy Bluewater.”
 
www.kentishfootball.co.uk are covering the game at Maidstone Road - we hope you do too! 
 

Chatham Town  v  AFC Sudbury
FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 7th October 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Maidstone Road, Chatham