VCD Athletic boss Keith McMahon: The chairman wants to stay in the League because we’re pretty sure we’re going to get moved again next year so why throw things at it if you’re not going to go up?

VCD ATHLETIC manager Keith McMahon says he has been told by his chairman to keep the club in the Bostik League come the end of the season.

 

The Crayford based side have switched from the North Division to the South Division for the first time and McMahon is relishing the challenges ahead.

Vickers will be one of 11 Kent club’s in the division, which will mean that 20 of their 46 League fixtures will be against Kent opposition.

“It’s going to be tough,” warned McMahon.

“It was tough so was the North.  I’m not one of these people that say the South is stronger than the North, that’s absolute rubbish!

“It’s going to be more difficult because there’s 11 teams in Kent.  You’re playing a lot of teams that you know and you’re also challenging for the same players as everybody else.

“There’s a few teams that have spent a lot of money in the North this year as well. It’s going to be good for the club itself to come over, I think the gates will go up.

“For me, I prefer the North because I know it like the back of my hand. It’s going to be challenging, it’s going to be good.

“I’ve lost half the side because I had to get players from that side of the water to play at that level that can’t now but that’s part of being a manager, we’re not going to complain and moan about it.

“I have sat down with the chairman (Gary Rump) and we have decided what we want.  We’re not throwing money at it at all and I can guarantee that. We’re going to give it a go.

“We’ve brought an under 18s in to try and help us out there as well to sit on the bench.”

Two clubs will be promoted automatically at the end of the season, with the next four qualifying for the play-offs while relegation has been cut to just one club rather than three.

“Everyone wants to try to get into the play-offs and I’m a manager that wants to win things,” said McMahon.

“It’s going to be a strong League. The chairman wants to stay in the League because we’re pretty sure we’re going to get moved again next year so why throw things at it if you’re not going to go up?  It is difficult to get out of these leagues, I’ve done it and it is hard so we’ll see how we’ll go.

“We need a good start, like any team, but I know we’re going to be capable of competing.

McMahon revealed he knows 65% of his starting line-up that will play Faversham Town on the opening day of the Bostik South season at Oakwood on Saturday 12 August.

McMahon added: “There’s always surprises, people that aren’t getting their dollar of money down at other clubs who are thinking they’re not getting in that will be on the phone.

“The club’s not saying we need to go up. They know it’s going to be a tough League because it’s a new League for us.  We’ll respect all the sides in it. I watched the play-offs last year as well and we do know a lot about the teams in Kent, so as long as we compete, we’ll be fine.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.vcdathleticfc.uk