More help will be appreciated, says Seager

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Marc Seager says the local business helping the club can only be beneficial to all concerned, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Belmont Road club are currently second-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South table with one win from their opening six league games.

But following discussions amongst local business people the decision has been taken for a team of business people to take the central role in maintaining and developing the finance of the club.

Eleven well known local business men and professionals have confirmed their group will do what is required to provide a budget of an already identified amount that will enable Whitstable Town to compete effectively in the Ryman League.

Seager, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, explained what this means to him as first-team manager.

“It’s a case of local businessmen coming in and continue the good work that’s been done,” he said.

“With the likes of Neil Harrington and Andy Page, with the other consortium members, good times lie ahead for the club.

“I don’t want people starting getting carried away thinking we’ve got a lot of money. What they’re doing is putting together a consortium on a business side to bring in more income to the club, working together with the people of Whitstable and carry on (running it like a) family local club.”

Seager revealed his meetings with the new faces have gone well and he’s fully part of their future plans.

“It’s nice to know I was one of the first people they spoke to,” said Seager.

“They know what I’m trying to achieve at the club and it’s nice to know these local business people want to get involved with such a football club like Whitstable Town.

“They’re not coming with big bulging pockets with money. What they are going to bring to us is business expertise and are businessmen who want to take this club forward.

“They know where I want to take this club. I know we might be struggling at the moment, but my record speaks for itself.

“Every season gets a little bit harder but that’s management. I feel they respect what I’ve done and trying to achieve for them and I’ve got the utmost respect for them.

“They are successful, solid businessmen and hopefully along with the people who are already there at the club, Tony Rouse, Joe Brownett, Alan Gower, Bruce Smith and Wes McLachlan, hopefully all together, we can keep taking this club forward.

“Who would have thought even three years ago we’d be in the Ryman League? We want to make sure this club’s going forward.

“We want to start bringing the youth around the area. I want all the best players in the Whitstable and Herne Bay area playing for Whitstable. I want a Soccer School running at the club, that’s something that’s never happened.

“I’ve got the full backing with these people and hopefully we can pull it off.”

Unfortunately the Oystermen will not get the exposure of a decent FA Cup run as this was ended at league rivals Merstham on Saturday, who scored a lucky last-gasp winner.

“The first half was disappointing,” Seager admitted. “We’re low on confidence at the moment and although I thought it was a step in the right direction at Cray in midweek, we didn’t take it into the game.

“We had a little chat at half-time and we got things sorted and our second half performance was excellent and was the best we’ve played this season.

“When Ian Pulman equalised, I thought there was going to be one winner.

“Merstham’s manager thought they had mugged me and done a runner.”

Whitstable will train on Wednesday night to prepare for their trip to Eastbourne Town at the weekend.

The east Sussex side are currently seventh-bottom in the table with a record off two wins from their first six league outings.

And Seager said: “We’re looking forward to get more points on the board - it’s time to get our season up and running.

“But again, us and Eastbourne are in the same sort of boat. None of us have massive budgets but on the day we can beat anyone.

“Because we’ve experienced a difficult period I’m not going to write off my players. I’ve got good players in my side but when you’re losing confidence is low and it’s up to the boys to pick themselves up and stop feeling sorry for ourselves, which we did a little bit in the first half.

“But second half filled everyone within the club with positives because you would have thought I made eleven changes at half-time. Players lacking confidence were comfortable on the ball with a lot more quality in their game.

“If we take that second half performance to Eastbourne with us, if we put in a similar performance for the rest of the season we will win more games than we lose.”

But Seager knows his side must string good results in the next few weeks to ensure the new consortium will be able to do their job easily.

“It’s not some Dubai oil group coming in, it’s business people coming in to sort out the business side of the football club,” he said.

“I think it’s exciting but all I want my players to do is concentrate on their jobs and not worry about what’s going on off the field - that’s my job.

“I want my players to do their job and get results on the pitch. If we get results on the pitch it’s easier to get other backers into the football club.

“But if we’re struggling it will make it harder. It’s a two-way partnership because it’s the first team and it’s all down to us. Football is a results business and if we get the results and do well the crowds will come in (and we’ll receive) more publicity.”

Visit Whitstable Town’s website:  www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Eastbourne Town v Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20^th September 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1EA

EDITOR'S NOTE:
In a previous article, there seems to be some misunderstanding that this group have taken over Whitstable Town Football Club.  This is, however, not the case, and www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to apologise for any misunderstanding.