27thnov05

Kinnear plans for long-term future

And speaking on an audio interview for the club's website, www.margate-fc.com, Kinnear admitted it's difficult chopping and changing players during the league campaign, instead of trying to find his settled side during the close season.

Having used 32 players in league and cup matches already this season, Kinnear said: "It's not impossible but it's the next best thing to be honest.

"I've said all along we're still a long way away at the moment.  We need to change it a little bit still and add to it.

"What happens when you start trying to sign people in July, the better players, and it's no disrespect to players, are all signed up.

"But now one or two are starting to be let go.  Anthony Allman is someone I've been trying to sign for a year or so.  We are signing people in the last few weeks that we really wanted to sign when before it was just to make sure we had eleven."

But the long serving manager added: "It's been unbelievably difficult.  People have been frustrated over the last few weeks but we knew as long as we kept patience - I've built three or four sides in nearly the last twenty years and I know how to do it.  Less experienced managers would have panicked and done silly things.

"You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince as it were."

Kinnear, however, admitted to feeling frustrated that fans have been critisising some of his younger players, especially after drawing nine of their 17 league games that have seen them slide down the table.  

The club drew eight successive league games earlier in the season but yesterday's win over Hampton will hopefully give the Thanet club the impetus to climb the table and reach the play-off's.

And having played 17 games, there is still a lot of time for that to happen.

"I get frustrated when people start critisising players - they're only young boys," fumed Kinnear.

"We've got to think long term for this club and that's probably our strength.

"A lot of clubs only think short time.  And that's why we're back here now with a new stadium on the horizon.

"A lot of clubs haven't had that long term plan and that's what we're doing so going back to the question, yes, nearly impossible but we're still digging away aren't we?

"We'll still lose some along the way because we're still trying things out.

"But you remember rightly it took three years to get it all sorted out (before), then we flew through the leagues.

"The boys have done well and there's a spirit throughout the club, which the supporters have contributed greatly."

The former Dover Athletic manager, warned it won't be the end of the world if his side miss out on reaching the end of season play-offs.

"If we don't get there, there's no good beating ourselves up about it, as we're setting a base for a long term future," said Kinnear, who takes his side to East Thurrock United next Saturday.

"There's a lot of clubs that have one or two good years and that won't happen here.  We are going for a long term, very good future."