Rusthall adopt professional approach under new boss Hugo - EXCLUSIVE

The 32-year-old, who lives in Forest Hill, south-east London, has replaced Robbie Forbes at the helm, although Forbes remains at the Jockey Farm outfit as vice-chairman.

“Sadly my playing career never reached it’s potential,” Langton admitted in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I have suffered for a long time with groin and hamstring injuries. I have played in the Wessex League as I lived in Portsmouth for a long time, moving back to London about six years ago.

“Last season I managed Gillingham Ladies and prior to that I worked on behalf of Gillingham guest coaching around youth teams in Kent.

“Keith McMahon (the manager of Kent League side Thamesmead Town) gave me some coaching opportunities here and there, for which I will always be grateful to him for as he has always been really good to me, and I wish Thamesmead the very best of luck next season.”

Langton, however, paid tribute to the work-ethic put in my Forbes.

“Robbie did a brilliant job with Rusthall and I am lucky to be inheriting a great bunch of lads from him,” he said.

“The club felt it was time to bring in a fresh face with new ideas and wanted an outsider who would have a fresh opinion on the playing staff.

“Obviously my approach will be different to Robbie’s and that’s doing no disservice to him at all.

“The players will now train twice a week, which will give me more time to work with players individually as well as the crucial team work.

“Damian Hopkins is joining us from Lordswood and will also be involved in the goalkeeping coaching side of things, which the keepers at the club have not had before.

“We’ll have a good balance as my number two, John Ronaldson knows the club well.”

Langton warned Rusthall’s current squad that they’ll have to graft if they are to clinch the premier division title.

He said: “It’s important to me that I move the club on. I haven’t come in for a laugh or for a jolly.

“I am here to work with the players and to do the best for this club.

“We’ll certainly be looking to be up there but the League will be stronger than ever this time round with five or six clubs really fancying their chances.

“I don’t want to say we’re going to win the league because that would be ridiculous, but one thing is for sure, we’re going to have a real go this season.”

Langton, however, has been impressed with the calibre of players already at the club, based in a village just outside Tunbridge Wells.

“At this stage we are still talking to a lot of players, but I feel the first team only needs two or maybe three more signings as we have a lot of quality in the club already,” he said.

“I have signed a striker called Lee Speirs, who I have known for years.

“He has played at this level before, notably for Cray Valley PM, but I know what he is capable of.

“He has two quick feet, his link up play is excellent, and he can finish too.

“Like I say, we are talking to a number of players, but the tricky thing is convincing them to take a step down a league and to look at the bigger picture and the direction the club is heading in, particularly when they’re on ok money in the Kent League. Things will move on in the next few weeks that’s for sure.

“We have a number of players coming in, who we have been in touch with or vice-versa, who have perhaps lost their way a little bit in football, and I am sure a few will take their chance with both hands.

“We also have two players who were out for most of last season and we’ll work hard with them to get them fit, as it will be like having two new signings too, as they are both quality players.

“I think some of the players we have in the pipeline will shock a few people if we can get them in.

“I have made it quite clear to all players that everyone is on an even platform and there are eleven shirts up for grabs on the opening day of the season and we’ll take it from there.”

With Bromley based side Holmedale securing their promotion into the Kent League, having won back-to-back Kent County League titles, Rusthall and Crockenhill are two Kent County League Premier Division clubs that have stated that they want to follow suite.

“Rusthall as a club are working so hard to bring the ground up to standard for the next level,” said Langton.  “So it’s vital to me that I provide them with the appropriate standard of football.

“I would like to think we’d be up there within two seasons. There is a real buzz around the place at the moment, but the important thing is that we don’t get carried away and think it’s going to be easy.

“We must remain focussed and if we are prepared to work hard and have that bit of belief in each other we’ll do ok.

“There has been a lot of talk about our aspirations for the coming few years, and I know a few eyebrows were raised over my appointment, but we’re going to enjoy our football and give our all.”

Langton joined thousands of well-wishers in wishing Maidstone United’s joint-manager Alan Walker a speedy recovery from his training ground accident in Belfast.

He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to wish Alan Walker a quick and speedy recovery after his operation. The sooner he is back in his tracksuit the better, as Kent football needs people like Alan.”

Visit Rusthall’s website: www.rusthallfc.co.uk