I have been overwhelmed with the support and kind words I have received from such respected people in the game since I left Whitstable. I believe without this I would have left the game, says newly-appointed Hythe Town coach Will Graham

WILL GRAHAM says it’s great to be back in the game after being appointed as Hythe Town’s new first team coach.

Graham, 29, was unveiled as Whitstable Town’s new manager after being promoted from coach when Jim and Danny Ward quit the club to return to Ramsgate during the summer.

But Graham parted company with the Oystermen after only six games in charge of the club in August.

Hythe Town, who started with Tim Dixon in charge at the start of the season, parted company with the former Ramsgate boss after 22 months and appointed Clive Cook and Tony Beckingham as joint-managers.

But The Cannons parted company with Beckingham after only six games, on Monday, leaving Cook in sole charge.

Graham’s first game in the dug-out for The Cannons was ironically the club’s 3-0 win at Whitstable Town on Tuesday night, a result that leaves Simon Halsey’s side ten points adrift of safety in the Ryman League Division One South on 7 points from 16 games, 10 points adrift of fourth-from-bottom Hythe Town.

“It’s great to be back in the game so quick after resigning from my position as manager at Whitstable Town back in August,” said Graham.

“I have been overwhelmed with the support and kind words I have received from such respected people in the game since I left Whitstable. 

“I believe without this I would have left the game, as the experience as manager made me question my love for the game and why I have worked so hard to get to where I have in the game.

“I had some phone calls since leaving Whitstable Town about coming in as coach but for whatever reason it wasn’t the right move for me.

“I had some communication with one of the players at Hythe Town on Monday and from that it went from me speaking to Clive that evening.

“I was still unsure about getting back in to the game as I wanted to work with the right people.

“However, after speaking with Clive I was sure he was the right man to work with. His desire and his attention to detail was very encouraging and he has allowed me to take a lot of responsibility within the team.

“I have always liked Hythe as a club, they make you feel welcome and have a competitive support behind them.

“The club have had lots of changes in the last couple of months, however, I think the main focus for us all is to settle the side down and push the side up the league.

“It was very coincidental that my first game as coach at Hythe saw us face Whitstable Town at The Belmont. It was strange going back to the club and sitting in the away changing room.

“However, it was nice to get the win under our belt and push us on for the next game against Carshalton on Saturday. 

“The future for me is to go back to what I’m best at and that is coaching.  I worked extremely hard for Jim and Danny whilst at Whitstable and have built a good reputation from that work i done.

“I believed I was ready to step into management.  However, I will take some more time coaching and learning from my mistakes as a manager and make sure the next time i become a manager them mistakes won’t happen again.”

Cook who was on a pre-planned break in Ibiza when Hythe Town came away from East Grinstead Town with a 2-2 draw last Saturday, the last time that Beckingham and coach Darren Anslow were part of the club’s management structure before leaving the club after six games.

It was Matt Longhurst’s first game in charge of East Grinstead Town, after resigning from his role at Southern Counties East Football League side Erith & Belvedere.

Cook told www.hythetownfc.co.uk: “Will has impressed Mark Lane and myself immensely with his attitude towards coaching and the players and he is a vastly experienced coach following his time with Dover, Margate, Charlton and of course Whitstable.

“He will be a fresh set of eyes on the playing squad and has a great attitude which fits in perfectly with what Mark Lane and myself want to achieve at Hythe Town.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Hythe Town  v  Carshalton Athletic
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th October 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS