Abbott wants to keep good Manners at Bourne Park - EXCLUSIVE

Monday 24th December 2007

Gary Abbott goes into his first festive period as Sittingbourne manager targeting two wins - and new players - as he aims to claw the Bourne Park outfit back in the play-off mix, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Brickies have slipped down the Ryman League Division One South pecking order in recent weeks and are presently in tenth place with 31 points at the halfway point of their campaign.

But they go into the festive programme on the back of an impressive 1-1 home draw against Worthing – courtesy of a late, late, Anthony Hogg leveller.

Sittingbourne travel to struggling Whitstable Town on Boxing Day, before Steve Lovell brings his Ashford Town side to Bourne Park on Saturday.

Abbott was thrilled with the result against Worthing, a club that publicly stated their promotion intentions at the start of the season.

“Brilliant result. Worthing were fourth or fifth, to get a draw I would have taken that,” Abbott said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We could have won it with a couple of chances (but) we didn’t start well second half, a lack of concentration from a throw in – bad goal.

“But we got our reward in the last minute – a draw was a fair result at the end of the day.”

Marc Seager’s Whitstable Town are finding their first ever season in the Ryman League tough and go into the Boxing Day game at Belmont Road in the bottom five.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in this league, as everyone can beat each other,” warned Abbott.

“We want three points and if we can get three points it takes us nicely onto the Ashford game Saturday.”

Abbott, meanwhile, hasn’t done his homework on the Oystermen.

“I don’t know nothing at all,” he admitted. “They’ve let in a few goals in, so we’ll be attacking them and get a few goals past them.

“We know they can let goals in – and score goals – we have to watch out for their strikers at the same time.”

Abbott has been busy in the transfer market in recent weeks, but knows he must release players before he can bring in fresh faces.

Abbott has given two Kent League players the chance to play at a higher level of football; centre half Billy Manners, 19, from Sevenoaks Town, and winger Dave Milton, from Erith Town (formerly of Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford).

“I have made a few (signings) but a few that’s gone as well,” said Abbott.

“To get players in I have to release players as well because we’ve got a tight budget.

“Billy Manners looks a good prospect. I want to get him on contract so no-one can nick him from us.

“We’ve also got Dave Milton, who was on the Chelsea Icon TV Show, where he came third.

“He looks a good player, played 20 minutes, came on and done well. He may be a possible start on Wednesday. He plays on the right or left or behind the front two – more of a wide player.”

Saturday’s game against Ashford Town centres on the return of former Brickies boss Lovell, but Abbott wants to concentrate on the football.

“Steve will probably want to beat us as much as we want to beat them,” he said.

“Not to get beat at Whitstable and it will be nice to get three points (against Ashford).

“We’re both looking to get three points, it should be a good game after all.”

And Abbott is targeting the play-off’s in the new year.

“We’re looking to get into the play-off’s and I’m looking to sign a couple of players,” he revealed.

“We’re two or three players away from having a good team. I’m sorting out signing a player, ex-Weymouth, not finalised yet, he should be in the starting line up.”

Having spoken to Maidstone United joint manager Alan Walker earlier on Sunday, it appears that Abbott’s target is Bryan Glover.

Glover remained on the substitutes bench during the Stones impressive 2-1 win at Horsham on Saturday.

Bexley born Glover, a defender, who was born on 30^th January 1987, began his career with Leyton Orient’s scholarship scheme and his other clubs include Crawley Town, Chelmsford City, Sutton United (where he got sent off after just six minutes into his debut) and Weymouth.

When www.kentishfootball.co.uk spoke to Walker at 1pm on Sunday, he said: “We did sign a guy from Weymouth, Bryan Glover, whether he remains with us remains to be seen – we have to speak to him.”

Visit club websites:

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Whitstable Town v Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Boxing Day, Wednesday 26^th December 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP