We will turn it around, insists Miles - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Midfielder Kevin Spriggs has been drafted into the Chatham Town squad for their game against Hastings United tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chatham Town boss Phil Miles has brought in the former Erith & Belvedere midfielder, who has been on loan to Kent League side VCD Athletic from their Ryman League Division One South rivals Dartford, in a bid to change their fortunes.

The Medway side have won just once in nine league matches, picking up just seven points and are in the bottom eight.

And Miles was left cursing his luck as his side had two goals disallowed during their 3-2 defeat at Cray Wanderers at the weekend.

“We’re having a bit of a bad patch at the moment and we need a win under our belts to get our confidence back and kick start our season,” Miles said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  

Miles will telephone Dartford boss Tony Burman to get his views on the east Sussex side.

The Darts lost twice to the Arrows in the space of seven days, losing 2-0 in the league and then crashing out of the FA Cup by the same scoreline back in September.

“I’m planning to talk to Tony Burman,” revealed Miles. “I’m going to chat to him to know a lot more about Hastings before kick off tonight but at the moment I don’t know too much about them.”

But Miles spoke out about poor officialdom at Hayes Lane on Saturday as Rob Goodger and Rob Denness had goals ruled out.

“We’ve had a bit of bad luck all season but nothing to do with refereeing decisions but I did feel we were robbed because we had two goals disallowed,” he bemoaned.

“I haven’t moaned about the officials this year because they haven’t been involved in decisions in our games, but the officials got key decisions wrong.

“If we got beat fair and square I would have held my hands up, but I thought the referee was poor.

“The officials got it wrong three times for us, and once for them.”

After playing Hastings United tonight, Chatham are without a game at the weekend after being dumped out of the FA Trophy by AFC Sudbury last week, but Miles will be looking to end their recent poor record against local rivals Sittingbourne, when Steve Lovell brings his side to Maidstone Road on Saturday 28 October.

“Every point is vital,” Miles insisted. “Getting back to tonight is a massive game. We haven’t got a game Saturday so our next game is against Sittingbourne at home.

“Getting back to Saturday, Steve Northwood was man of the match and shows how much we dominated. It was just one of those games.

And Miles is desperate to end their recent poor run against Sittingbourne.

He said: “Last year I was involved with the first team and they beat us three times.

“They’re our local derby so it would be a nice one to win. Not for the fact that it’s Sittingbourne but we need the three points.

“We need the season to kick-start soon. At the end of the day it’s a results business and that’s what all the people look at. It’s not good for my CV or the players CV getting beat but Sittingbourne would be nice to get the season off and running.”

Miles explained why he’s brought Spriggs back to the club.




RETURN:  Midfielder Kevin Spriggs returns to Chatham Town for their game against Hastings United at Maidstone Road tonight.
Photo courtesy of www.chathamtownfc.net

“I’ve brought him in to freshen things up and change our luck and create something out of nothing,” he said.

“We’re a good side, we’re just not showing it at the moment. One day it will turn and we won’t look back. Hopefully it will be tonight, it not it will be Sittingbourne, and if it’s not Sittingbourne it will be whoever we play next.”

Rob Denness (swollen knee) is rated as 50/50 to be fit tonight but Ross Finn (knee) is out long-term.

Meanwhile, Chatham welcome Charlton Athletic’s academy side next Tuesday (24 October) for Gary Tilley’s testimonial.

Admission prices are just £5 (adults), £3 (senior citizens) and £1 (children) and all funds raised will go the Tilley, who broke his leg for a third time during a pre-season friendly at Thamesmead Town.

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net