Our sole aim is to matain our Ryman status, says Whitstable chairman - EXCLUSIVE

WHITSTABLE TOWN chairman Tony Rouse is confident that the coastal club will maintain it’s Ryman League status at the end of this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

It has been a “steep learning curve” for everybody at the Belmont Road club this season and despite defeating Corinthian-Casuals 4-2 at home yesterday, the Oystermen still find themselves in a precarious position in the Division One South table - just three points clear of the trap door.

“There’s obviously been some concern because we’ve gone four games without a win and after going 23 (Kent League) games unbeaten last season I think it’s been a difficult time for the supporters’ adjusting to the situation we find ourselves in,” Mr Rouse said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Mr Rouse knows what the team must do during their last remaining 16 league games this season to avoid their first ever campaign at this level ending in relegation.

“If I’m totally honest when Marc Seager and I sat down at the beginning of the season, him like 22 managers, told me he was going to win the league.

But I knew that was very much tongue in cheek. In my heart of hearts we’re both realists and our sole aim is to finish the season still as a Ryman club and then build on from there.

“Tommy Martin’s comments last week, when he touched on the fact that a lot of players’ have never played lower than fifth in the league - it’s been a very steep learning curve.”

But Mr Rouse, 60, insists that the club has faith in manager Marc Seager and there is no intention of replacing him.

“We have one of the best young managers in non-league football and I think our biggest problem as time goes by will be keeping Marc Seager at Whitstable Town,” he said.

“He’s only just hung up his playing boots. He’s lost over two stone, named himself as a substitute yesterday and has been training with the boys’ and as fit as he’s been for a while.

“He’s got no intentions of becoming a player boss. He just wants to be in a position to do the business if needed due to our horrendous list of injuries.

“Almost from the first day of the season, out of a squad of 25 players in total, we’ve always had four or five out with long-term injuries, all at crucial times.”

Whitstable’s survival hopes pin on the recent additions, David Cory and Ian Pulman.

“We just really need to concentrate on the team and results,” said the chairman.

“I must say, although he’s worked tremendously hard since he’s joined us, Ian Pulman hasn’t been able to find the back of the net. Scoring two on Saturday will do wonders for his confidence and new signing David Cory, also on the score sheet, was a real fillip for the side.

“They both know each other’s games well and some of their runs they were making off the ball was a joy to watch."

The Whitstable chairman said that players need to start defending from the front as well as the back and start scoring goals.

“So far this season we have failed to do that and let’s hope the new lads at the club we can look forward to the rest of the season with renewed hope. My message to the supporters is to keep the faith,” he said.

“Some of the fans are a little disgruntled. It’s a very difficult adjustment being at the top of one table and bottom of another and sometimes defeat can be a bitter pill to swallow because the gap between the two sides hasn’t been great as the defeats would show.”

But Mr Rouse will not splash cash that the club hasn’t got to ensure they’ll be in this division come August.

He said: “Marc’s made no secret that we want quality players at Whitstable but even if I had the money available I wouldn’t go over the odds just to get any player. It’s got to be the right player for the team - at the right time.”

Whitstable leave the pressures of league football and travel to in-form Cray Wanderers for a place in the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup at stake.

Ian Jenkins side, currently in third place in the table - six points behind leaders Tooting & Mitcham United - and are on an excellent run of 14 games without defeat.

And Mr Rouse believes Whitstable could even cause a shock at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

“I must say the time we played them in the league up there they beat us 3-1 and looked a comfortable side on the ball,” he recalled.

“Marc always says the league table doesn’t lie and on their current form they deserve to be there.

“On our day we can give any side a game. We will be going there to treat the game as one we want to win.

“We’ve got the utmost respect for the competition and there’s still some very good sides left in it.

“We may even meet Ebbsfleet United (who welcome local rivals Dartford to Stonebridge Road on 26^th January) in the next round or the final - what a dream tie that will be for Whitstable.

“I would like to say how proud we are by playing some part in John Akinde’s football development. It’s been a joy to have him around the football club, he really is a gentle giant and everybody loves the lad and we’re delighted that he’s doing so well.”

Cray Wanderers’ goal-less draw against Worthing at Hayes Lane yesterday was the first time in 34 games (including 3 at the end of last season) that they had failed to score.

Visit club websites:

www.craywands.co.uk

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Whitstable Town
Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Tuesday 22^nd January 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF