There's no reason why Chatham can't be top six, with a small budget, says Miles - EXCLUSIVE

Chatham Town welcome Margate to Maidstone Road tomorrow, and Chats boss Phil Miles insists things are getting serious from now on, writes Stephen McCartney.

Miles has run the rule over plenty of trailists during their opening three pre-season matches.

The Ryman League Division One South outfit began with a 3-2 win at Tunbridge Wells, before crashing to defeats at Greenwich Borough (1-6) and Thamesmead Town (4-3).

“I missed the first two weeks of pre-season training as I was on holiday in Turkey,” Miles said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their first home match.

“Steve Best and Alan Collins did most of the pre-season training, and that’s gone really well.

“This year we’ve had a lot of trialists that have come to the club, and they’ve featured heavily over the last three games.

“But obviously disappointed to lose games, but I need to look at these players.

“We’ve had a heavy defeat at Greenwich, but there was a hell of a lot of trailists, a few youngsters.”

Miles revealed that full-back, Tom Binks is expected to be out of action for about four weeks, having just had an operation on his pelvis.

Having lost teenage striker Rob Denness to join Clive Walker at rivals, Ashford Town, Miles is pinning his goalscoring hopes on Dominic Elmes, a summer signing from Dartford.

“He scored again on Saturday, so maybe he’s going to be the man to get us the goals,” Miles said of Elmes.

“Obviously, I’m looking to try and bring two in. I’m still talking to people at the moment, so hopefully there could be a couple of new faces before the season starts.”

The Northfleet based manager, a builder, hit back at fans of other Kent clubs that have said that Chatham Town will be relegation fodder this term.

“Well, if you went on last year, we beat Maidstone and Dartford,” he replied.

“On certain days we are relegation material because we had some poor performances last year, but what we’re looking to do at Chatham over the next two to three seasons is to build the club up slowly.

“We haven’t got the finances to pay out all the money and do it instantly like some clubs. We have to do it gradually.

“I don’t see us (around the) relegation (zone) again, we’ll be ok.

And another full-back, Bradley King, (ankle ligaments), and winger, Mark Brooks (broken hand) are also currently on the treatment table.

Former Faversham Town defender, James Holder looks to have left the club, and Miles said: “James has not come back to me, so I don’t know what he’s doing now.”

Ryman Premier League side Margate arrive at Maidstone Road with a whole host of trialists and reserve team players on Tuesday night, but Miles looks to ship out the dead wood.

He said: “Against Margate we’re looking to start dwindling the squad down to the first team squad that will be the side for the forthcoming season.

“Basically, it gets serious now. We need to work on formation, how we’re going to play, and still work on our fitness.

“It does get serious now, some of the new lads that think their good enough will stay, and if they’re not, they’ll move on.

“There could be a couple that could be part of the squad, whether they’ll make the first eleven, I don’t know.”

But Miles has been given a boost ahead of their new campaign, with the news that central midfielder, Matt Solly has fought his way back from a broken leg.

“He broke his leg the year before last, so he’s been out for a season. He’s come back pre-season and he’s looking strong.”

“We’ve got enough about us, enough in the squad, with a little bit of good fortune, we’re looking for top six.

“People will be surprised when I say top six, but there’s no reason why Chatham can’t be top six.

“To attract players we need to be looking to get into the top six, even though we’ve got one of the smallest budgets in the league, it doesn’t mean that we’re going to finish in the bottom six.

“With a bit of good fortune last year, we would have finished in the top half. Our problem was scoring goals, but if we can score goals, who knows?

“You have to be aiming for as high as possible.”

Visit club websites:

www.chathamtownfc.net

www.margate-fc.com

Chatham Town v Margate
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 31^st July 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES