I don't want these Jekyll and Hyde performances, says Whitstable Town boss Nicky Southall

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Nicky Southall says a professional approach will maintain the club’s Ryman League status.



The Oystermen climbed up to nineteenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table following their surprise 4-1 win over second-placed Faversham Town yesterday.

Southall’s side remain seven points clear of the sole relegation place, currently occupied by Three Bridges, who claimed a 1-0 home win over Walton & Hersham.

And Whitstable Town, who have claimed 32 points, can strengthen their bid for survival with a victory away to the team immediately below them in the table, Horsham on Tuesday night, and a home win against second-from-bottom side Walton Casuals next Saturday.

”We want to get 40 points so if we get 40 points I think that will do it,” said Southall.

”We’ve got ten games left and Three Bridges have got eight. We can’t worry about them. We just have to worry about what we do. If we do what we did at Faversham then we’ll be ok.

”They’re all six-pointers now, this stage of the season, where you are.

”The last manager (Justin Luchford) here was at Horsham and Richard’s (Langley) been there so he knows a bit about them.

”We apply ourselves like yesterday we’ll run them close and hopefully we’ll come out with a great result.”

Southall described their impressive victory at Salters Lane as one of the highlights of the season and wants to replicate that performance for the rest of the season.

”We just got to keep building on what we build. I don’t want these Jekyll and Hyde performances,” he said.

”We’ve just got to be consistent so I know what I’m getting each week from my players. If we can apply ourselves like we did against Faversham we’ll be ok and we’ll kick on up the league.”

Southall, 41, who made over 600 professional appearances for the likes of Hartlepool United, Grimsby Town, Gillingham (four spells), Bolton Wanderers, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, admitted being at The Belmont has been different to what he has been used to.

The former Dover Athletic midfielder, who has played in all four divisions of The Football League, including one season in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers in the 2001-02 season, said: “I’ve found it difficult because it is different, it’s amateur football and I’ve not been used to that.

”I’ve been a professional all my life and that’s one thing I do ask my players, to act in a professional manner on and off the field and adapt yourselves.

”You’re a non-league player but don’t act as a non-league player, act as a pro, see where it takes you and you probably feel a lot better about yourself.”

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk  

Horsham  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 12^th March 2013
Kick Off 7:30pm
At Gorings Mead, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5BP