Sittingbourne job came at the right time for me, says Abbott - EXCLUSIVE

Goalscoring legend Gary Abbott feels now is the time to move into management, having been unveiled as the surprise choice by Sittingbourne last Friday morning, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 42-year-old, Rochester resident, who works for a wholesale wine company in Otford, near Sevenoaks, is looking forward to his first managerial job, having previously coached at Fisher Athletic, Braintree Town and Cray Wanderers.

Since Steve Lovell quit the Bourne Park club on 30^th October, almost immediately after the club’s 3-1 win at Chatham Town, taking over from Clive Walker at Ashford Town, Sittingbourne have slipped away from the play-off’s.

But Abbott, who scored a total of 557 goals in 1,270 games during a glittering 25-year playing career, believes he can get the club back on track, by playing good, attractive football.

Defeats to Corinthian Casuals and Dover Athletic and a draw at Walton & Hersham were set-backs for the Brickies, but this was followed by an impressive 2-2 home draw against leaders Tooting & Mitcham United yesterday.

Former Sittingbourne manager and now Chelsea’s goalkeeper coach, Mark Beeney took charge of team affairs, as he did the previous game at Stompond Lane, with Abbott keeping a close eye on matters.

Abbott officially takes charge of the team on Tuesday night, when third-from-bottom side Molesey visit Bourne Park. The Moles have picked up just one win and six draws from their 16 games.

Sittingbourne, meanwhile, have slipped down to tenth place in the table, with a record of seven wins and three draws from the same amount of games.

Abbott will find out later in the month if he’s being given the all clear from doctors to play again - but he’s relishing his new role.

“I’ve had two discs out of my neck and had them replaced, and I’m going to hospital on 28^th November,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’ve got it in my head that I’m not going to play no more, but this management job has come at a good time.

“It’s great to be involved and a good chance to do something at Sittingbourne.

“I feel the time’s right. I’m ready, and get Sittingbourne up that table and into them play-off’s.

Abbott was pleased that his side secured a 2-2 draw, a result that ensured Dover Athletic leapfrogged over Tooting & Mitcham United in the table.

“Before the game you would have took a point,” he said.

Abbott is expected to bring in two or three new players “to bolster the squad,” but didn’t want to deflate his new squad by mentioning which players’ futures are at stake.

A total of 19 people applied for the vacancy, and Abbott admitted he wasn’t favourite to land the Bourne Park post.

He said: “Everyone’s quite surprised that I got it. Looking at the internet (and a poll on the Sittingbourne fans’ forum) there was ten names and I wasn’t on it.

“I spoke to Andy (Spice, Sittingbourne’s chairman) and I was enthusiastic and they liked the way I came across.

“I would like to thank Andy and the board, because I feel I’m ready for the job.”

Abbott asks the Sittingbourne faithful to flock through the turnstiles on Tuesday night against Molesey.

“I told them I want to bring football back to Sittingbourne,” he sad. “Keep the ball on the floor, pass and move and get the ball wide.”

And he will have a calm influence on team affairs.

“I watched the Tooting game from the stand first half (and) second half on the bench with Mark Beeney,” he said.

“We decided to make a sub at the right time and scored the goal, and could have nicked it in the end. I was well pleased!

“I did go into the changing room and have a few words. I thought we could come away with three points, but a draw was a fair result.

“On Tuesday I want the players’ to show the same attitude. Molesey have let in the most goals this season - 37 goals - and I want a quick start, a quick tempo, getting balls wide and balls into the box and having loads of shots - and tight at the back.”

Abbott, meanwhile, is expected to name his assistant, a goalkeeper whose still playing, but has to go through all the proper channels first.

He did, however, reveal that it’s a goalkeeper whose nearing the end of his career, but said it was not Paul Hyde, 44, whose playing for Kent League side Hythe Town.

“Obviously I’ll have an assistant manager who I want to come in,” he said. “I don’t want to name him at the moment.

“I spoke to Andy (Spice) over it and hopefully we’ll bring him in within two weeks. He’s playing at the moment, he’s a goalkeeper.”

Getting into the play-off’s is everybody’s aims at the club.

“Obviously my aim and the club’s aim is they want to get into the play-off’s and that’s what I’m trying,” he said.

“The first job is not to get relegated. We’re in tenth place, four points off the play-offs.

“Tuesday is a must-win game. I told the players that and they know I want three points.

“We should be going into Tuesday’s game with a lot of confidence, play good football and get three points.

“I think you only get a bigger crowd when you win,” he explained. “When a new manager comes in you get the odd fifty coming in, to see what we’re up to.

“So hopefully that result (against Tooting & Mitcham United) will bring in another 50, If we can get to play football. I’ve been on the internet an a few supporters have said it’s good to watch some football.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne v Molesey
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 20^th November 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB