Nicky Southall is a great signing for Whitstable Town, says boss Justin Luchford

WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Justin Luchford has tonight pulled off the club’s biggest ever signing.



Middlesbrough-born, Nicky Southall, 40, who has made 736 appearances for Football League clubs, has signed for the Ryman League Division One South club on non-contract terms after turning down offers from higher-league clubs.

Southall has previously played League football for Hartlepool United, Grimsby Town, Gillingham, Bolton Wanderers, Norwich City (loan), Gillingham, Nottingham Forest and Gillingham.

He dropped down into non-league football with Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover Athletic (then in the Ryman Premier League) in September 2008 and made the move to Crabble permanent in July 2009 as player-coach.

The pair returned to Gillingham when Hessenthaler was appointed as manager for a second time a year later.

But Hessenthaler lost his job as manager at the end of last season after not getting the Kent club promoted out of League Two in two attempts and moved upstairs as director of football, while Southall has signed for Whitstable Town to resume his playing career.

Whitstable Town are perennial strugglers and finished fourth-from-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South last season, but the Belmont outfit are expected to do much better next term.

Luchford, 35, says he is delighted to sign such a high-calibre footballer, who started 10 Premier League games for Bolton Wanderers during season 2001-02.

He said: “It is a good signing.  We’ve been able to bring a few players to the club and we’re pretty much done and dusted.

“I have been speaking to Nicky for a little while, together with a lot of clubs at this level and also club’s higher all the way up to the Conference who wanted to sign him.

“We’ve managed to do a deal with him and he’s signed on the dotted line this evening and I’m delighted to be working with him.”

Southall’s arrival will spur the club on to better things on the pitch, after finishing 12 points clear of relegated Whyteleafe last season.

Luchford added:  “When I came here the job was to make sure first and foremost we were playing Ryman football this season and then on the back of that we wanted to kick on and we didn’t want Whitstable to be in the same position they’ve been in a number of years at the wrong end of the table. 

“We want to cement ourselves in that top ten and see where it takes us.

“I think first and foremost the one thing we were missing and lacking last year was experience on the pitch and our spine wasn’t as strong as it probably should have been so we’ve worked hard in the summer to make sure we strengthen that spine.”

When asked what Southall’s role at The Belmont will be, Luchford replied, “We spoke at length what his role will be and make no bones about it, he’s an A Licenced coach and he will be able to put on some coaching sessions and really help me as a manager and help Richard Langley as an assistant manager and help the club kick on, on the coaching side.

“First and foremost he’s here to play football. He’s got the number 7 shirt, he’ll wear the number seven shirt and he will play in the centre of our midfield and will bring a bit of calmness and experience and that little bit of quality that you need.

“He’s a proven player at the top level. He’s played in the Premiership for Bolton. He’s played for Nottingham Forest as well as Gillingham.  He’s played over 750 League games and he’s still fit as a fiddle and he adds to the club both on and off the pitch.”

Southall can be classed as Whitstable Town’s biggest ever signing – but Luchford insists the club haven’t robbed a bank to bring him to The Belmont.
 
“Biggest signing? Yes, certainly in my lifetime as a manager, I would say so, yes.  It’s a great signing,” said Luchford.

“There’s a couple of things that we have to make clear.  First of all this is not a money thing.   Nicky isn’t interested in money!  It’s not about money!

“I’ve not re-mortgaged my house and paying for everything out of my own back pocket has never been further than the truth.  I’ve never done that at any club I’ve been at!

“It’s not about money. He’s been a friend of mine for a very long time.  We’ve been away on holiday numerous times together.

“He felt he had a couple of years left of playing and he wanted to help a mate out and that’s what it’s all about.

“He’s got a lot business interests as everyone’s aware.  He a business partner of the 442 Club in Gillingham with three others, including Hessie (Andy Hessenthaler). He does a bit of coaching.  He’s got a coaching business that he shares with someone else and he’s got a couple of other business interests as well.

“He just wanted to help a mate out and hopefully he can help us kick on, on the pitch and give me a little bit of guidance as well.  I’m my own man and I’ll make my own decisions.  I’m still learning in the game.  I’m a young manager. I’ve always said I’m learning the game and he’ll give me a lot of knowledge.

“He won’t be on a contract.  Pure and simply because if a club comes in for him in a professional way for his coaching or managerial services or Hessie gets another job then obviously we have to let him go and wish him all the best of luck. 

“All the time that doesn’t happen he’ll be playing in the red and white and be at The Belmont every other week to help us to push us on as a club.”

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