You don't need money to produce good players, says Whitstable chairman

WHITSTABLE TOWN are looking forward to welcoming Ryman Premier League side Margate to Belmont Road for their second pre-season friendly on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Sussex County League side Redhill, thanks to a very rare Rob Thomas strike.

Whitstable Town coped well during their inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign, finishing in a respectable fourteenth place - on a very small budget compared to Margate last season.

Margate have been forced to slash their budget this term and under a star studied management team, including Barry Ashby, Whitstable chairman Tony Rouse offered some reassurance for Margate.

Some are fearing that the Thanet club will emulate Leyton’s disastrous campaign, when the east Londoners threw kids’ in at the deep end and were punished by finishing their Ryman Premier League campaign rock-bottom.

But Mr Rouse says clubs can still produce good young players without paying them bundles of money.

“I think it’s going to be a very interesting game of football, I really do,” Mr Rouse told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We went to the Ryman League dinner and we shared a table with Margate Football Club and the whole of the evening, Barry Ashby and all they were talking about all the time was youth, youth, youth, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring a very young side here.”

Whitstable Town run on a very small budget, compared to what Margate have been splashing out recently.

Mr Rouse said: “In a way, it’s not a bad thing, because although we’d like the biggest budget in the world and it would mean the manager would splash the cash, I think if you’re lucky enough to get quality players and you can attract them for the right reasons, in that way it’s got it’s advantages.

“We pride ourselves that we’ve got a good playing surface here at The Belmont. Anytime one of the boys come down to have a look at the club, that’s the first thing that impresses them and they’ll all be the first to tell you, playing football on a good surface is one thing a player wants to do.

“That’s the be all and end all in football for these lads.

“We’ve got absolutely first class training facilities over the University of Canterbury, as good as anywhere in the south east of England easily.

“There’s a G2 pitch, all the facilities there. It doesn’t come cheap and probably costs us a couple of players a week, but we can train there comer rain or shine.

“I know from the feedback that I’ve got from players, the management team and from the physic, it’s cut our injury list down, so it’s pays dividends.”

Whitstable believe they’re capable of breaking into the play-off’s this season, despite their limited funds.

“If we can consolidate on what we achieved towards the end of last season and build on that, I think our realistic aim is top half of the table,” said Mr Rouse.

“If we’re pushing play-off’s, promotion place at the end of the season, that will be absolutely fantastic, that will be a dream for us.

“Just see where we can go within the budget that we’ve got and the finances of the football club.”

Meanwhile, manager Marc Seager is looking forward to pitting his wits against his counterpart, Ashby.

“I get on really well with Barry, we’ve had some conversations, some long hours on the phone,” he said.

“I’m sure he’ll do a good job down there. He was a top player and I know he’s totally committed and he’ll get in there and he’ll have his team hungry and chomping at the bit.

“It’s a big game for us, they’re a League above us and it will be a good workout for us.”

Visit Whitstable Town’s website:  www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Whitstable Town v Margate
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 22^nd July 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP