9thapr04

Slade Green looking for investment

PHIL MILES, manager of Go Travel Kent League Premier Division strugglers Slade Green, has warned the future manager at the Small Glen outfit what to expect, writes Stephen McCartney.

Miles is expected to stand down as manager at the end of the season after three years at the helm, and he said: "When Terry Malin and myself took this job three years ago, we knew it was going to be hard work.

"A club like Slade Green has, in all honesty, very little to offer players.  There is certainly plenty of potential to do work around the ground, but that costs money.

"We have a fantastic playing surface but in this day and age is never going to be enough to attract players capable of success.

"After our first season we realised that we had to improve.  I felt we got together a good squad last year and that showed on the pitch, getting closer to the big boys and even beating some of them.

"However, at the beginning of this season, I along with Terry Malin and a few others honestly believed we would challenge for the top four.

"Well that faith has certainly disappeared, along with many players and a very good manager.

"I honestly don't believe there is any harder job at this level than managing Slade Green, with 99% of clubs now paying players we are well behind and are now at a massive crossroads." said the frustrated manager.

With only Tunbridge Wells, Deal Town and Sporting Bengal United underneath them in the table, Slade Green will be hoping to end a run of twelve games without a win on Saturday.  However, the prospect of facing sixth placed Erith Town will be a tough one.  The Dockers will be looking to win their seventeenth league game of the season and pile on the pressure on fifth placed Maidstone United.  The Stones are only three points ahead of the Dockers, as Erith aim to put pressure on the much-fancied top five teams, VCD Athletic, Thamesmead Town, Cray Wanderers, Whitstable Town and Maidstone United.


Slade Green vs Erith Town, Saturday 10 April 2004, 3.00pm @ The Small Glen, Go Travel Kent League Premier Division

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