I'm delighted to be here and I'm very much so looking forward to the challenges ahead, says newly-appointed Sevenoaks Town manager Marcel Nimani

MARCEL NIMANI says he is delighted to be at Sevenoaks Town, after being appointed manager last Thursday.

The club unveiled the arrival of Nimani yesterday after Mark Dacey stepped down due to personal reasons on Sunday 2 June.

The Oaks finished in tenth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division after picking up 46 points (13 wins, seven draws and 18 defeats) from their 38 league games.

“It’s great to be here,” said Nimani in a club statement.


Sevenoaks Town unvei Marcel Nimani as their new manager.
Photo: Sevenoaks Town FC

“It’s been an overwhelming experience actually getting this job.  The way it started, all the way to the end on Thursday when Paul (Lansdale, chairman) told me that I’ve got the job. 

“I’m delighted to be here and I’m very much looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Nimani revealed that five players have agreed to sign for the Greatness Park outfit and will be in negotiations with 15 others this week.

“As a management team we’re experienced and established enough in this region of non-league to be able to recruit a side quickly enough ready for pre-season,” added Nimani.

“I’m very much so looking forward to embracing the youth here.  I think every manager wants 11 players that will fight for the club and the badge and to do that you need the young, local players, so that’s one way that we go about the youth.

“Another objective is to establish ourselves further in the community and the best way to do that is by rewarding the youth by inter-linking with the youth and bringing the youth forward.  Absolutely, youth will be at the heart of our every decision.”

Nimani was part of Ernie Batten’s management team at Sheppey United that scooped a rare quadruple during the 2021-22 season.

Nimani took over at Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Whitstable Town on 18 October 2022.

However, he departed Belmont Road on 11 April 2024 after the club missed out finishing in the play-offs.

Nimani praised Dacey for providing him with a smooth handover.

“He’s a great guy Mark. I have a good relationship with him. He’s facilitated and supported my move to Sevenoaks and it’s a real credit to his character and the legacy that his predecessor (Harry Hudson) left behind, so I’m huge admirers of both of them.

“The handover from Mark has been exceptional. I’ve been communicating with Mark quite often, which is very rare in the non-league to have that level of communication with the previous manager, so it’s been a very smooth transition for me and all that’s to the legacy that Harry initially left with Mark, so I’m very grateful to the previous manager.”

Former Sevenoaks Town captain, centre-back Corey Holder, meanwhile, has been appointed player-coach for Southern Counties East Football League First Division title-winners AFC Whyteleafe, who will be playing in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South next season.

The Oaks haven’t yet released details of their pre-season campaign but relegated Isthmian League Premier Division side Dover Athletic are the visitors to Greatness Park on Saturday 6 July.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk