Kentish Football 
Bringing in three new players is a motivational tool for others to climb the table, says Mark Lane
Thursday 18th November 2010
WHITSTABLE TOWN boss Mark Lane hopes an early morning training session on Saturday will inspire his side to climb away from the Ryman League Division One South relegation zone, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Oystermen are perennial slow starters and only seem to kick into gear after Christmas and this is the case again as Lane’s side have collected just two wins and four draws from 15 games and only goal-difference keeps them out of the drop zone.
When asked about his side’s campaign so far, Lane told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “It’s been a bit disappointing and everyone’s striving to get us out of that position. I think we didn’t start too well, we’ve had a lot of injuries, like everyone else had those and you have to move on.
“We reacted last week by bringing three players in and we’ve got a point against Walton & Hersham, which I was quite pleased with.”
When asked why Whitstable are slow starters every year, Lane replied, “If I had the answer to that I’d be with Alex Ferguson! I don’t know! I thought we prepared well pre-season, we had everybody ready, the fitness training went well and we had a coach in place.
“For whatever reason it never happened. We had a good pre-season, we won quite a number of games but when the league games started we went back into our shell.
“I really haven’t got an answer to that. We really have to look forward now. Those 15 games have gone and we’ve got to move forward and try and get as many points as we can.”
With only 10 points on the board, Lane revealed how many points he predicts his side will need to collect to maintain their Ryman League status next April.
He said: “I think, realistically, if you look at the table, you need 40-45 points. There’s quite a large points gap to get but it all depends on other teams as well, but we’re striving for 45 points.”
Whitstable are without a game on Saturday due to Bognor Regis Town’s FA Carlsberg Trophy commitments but Lane will bring the players in for an early morning training session ahead of their must-win home clash against Chipstead next Tuesday.
“We had everybody in on Tuesday night and we’ll again train on Saturday morning at Mote Park in Maidstone,” said Lane.
“We’re going in at half-eight, we’ve got the squad down there and two or three will be playing for the reserves against Holmesdale at home so they’ll get a run out.
“The general consensus of the squad is we’re quite pleased with what we done on Saturday, we’re quite positive and we want to move forward.
“We made three good signings last week and it all depends how the rest off the squad react to that. You can either sit down and rely on the players and keep the players you’ve got or bring players in and that’s what I’ve done.
“There might be some people who fall by the wayside or fight for their places and after the week after next I’ll know who’s doing what.”
Whitstable welcome Chipstead to Belmont Road next Tuesday, a side now managed by the vastly experienced Mike Reed following Mark Tompkins’ resignation recently.
“They’re a strange team, they beat teams you don’t expect them to beat and lose to teams you expect them to beat,” warned Lane.
“They’ve just got rid of Tompkins this week or he’s resigned so I don’t know what’s gone on there. It’s a game at home on a Tuesday night you expect to win and then Walton Casuals on the Saturday so you’re hoping for six points this week to be fair.
“The team morale’s been very good. When you bring a few players in people look over their shoulders and I think sometimes it’s a good motivational tool.”
Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk
Whitstable Town v Chipstead
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
Kick Off 7:45pm
At The Belmont Ground, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd