Former Referee Johnson joins Whitstable board

Monday 07th June 2010

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Mark Lane has unveiled his first summer signing in midfielder Dave Soutan and has made a couple of appointments for his coaching team, writes Stephen McCartney.

Soutan arrives from neighbouring Kent League double winners Faversham Town, whilst Lane has appointed Andy Morris (who has previously coached at Hythe Town and Ashford Town) as the club’s new first team coach and former Canterbury City manager Dave Fairclough comes in to manage the Oystemen’s reserve side.

“Delighted to have them all at the club,” Lane told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“It’s a bit like buses, you wait for one then all three come along at once.

“Seriously though, we have been working quietly away behind the scenes to make sure we get the people at Whitstable who are right for the club.

“All three will be great additions, Souten to give me a bit more height and muscle in midfield, but he is such a versatile player who can also play at centre back and more importantly he like to ‘play football’ so he will suite our style of play to a tee.

“Dave Fairclough will be perfect for the reserves a manager job, he is local so he knows all the lads and comes highly recommended for his man management skills and the style of football he likes to play.

“I know from the conversations we have had he has just the right attitude to bringing younger players on; those that can progress to the first team will get their chance. We will be focussing on local lads and I expect there to be plenty of opportunity given to any lad that shows ability.”

Fairclough admitted he is delighted to have been given a chance at a higher-league club.

“I am absolutely delighted at joining such a great club,” he said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity Mark has given me and thrilled that the chairman and the board have shown faith in me with their appointment as reserve team manager of Whitstable Town.

“I would like the board and the supporters to know that I will be doing my utmost to make a success of the job, to put it in plain terms ‘I won’t let you down’.

Morris had answered an advert placed by Lane on www.kentishfootball.co.uk to become the club’s first team coach to support Lane and his assistant, midfielder Clint Gooding.

Lane said: “Thrilled to have Andy on board he has the right attitude and from the moment we sat down and started to talk football I knew he was right man for the job.

“So with these three appointments we have the basis now to move the club forward to the next level.”

Whitstable Town have lost striker Ian Pulman to Ashford Town, although fellow striker Stuart Vahid has turned down a move to Ramsgate to stay at Belmont Road.

“I know (the supporters) have been keen for some news on new players etc but Clint (Gooding) my number two and I have looked long and hard to bring in the right type of people to the club,” added Lane.

“People with the right attitude and ones we know we can work with over a period of time.

“Let’s be honest, we spend so much time together training travelling to games and all the stuff that goes with football at this level, you really need to get on with people you work with which is why I will not be making any hasty decisions on staff or players.

“I have Dave (Soutan) already signed and nearly all the lads, bar one or two who I have invited back from last season.

“We are working away on two or three others players who we want to bring to the club.

“I do not intend to work with a big squad, I see no point in have twenty or so players signed on just for the sake of it, the last thing I want to do is mess players around by promising them this and that only for them to be warming their bums on the subs bench week in week out.

“That’s not mine or Clint’s style, but we do want to improve the squad but at the same time work within the budget the club have set for the season. All I can say is watch this space.”

Meanwhile, former Newington based referee, Gary Johnson, who runs a hospitality business, has joined the club’s committee as vice-chairman.

Quotes courtesy of www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk