I have been working over-time to ensure we have everything in place, says Justin Luchford

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Justin Luchford has today brought in new members of his backroom staff as he prepares for his first full season in charge at Belmont Road.

The Oystermen finished last season in the bottom-four in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 40 points from 40 games.

Luchford issued the following statement on the club’s official website www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk, revealing new roles for Dave Fairclough (technical director), Bill Friend (first team co-ordination manager) and Scott Davenport (goalkeeping coach).

Fairclough was Whitstable Town’s reserve team manager last season, while Friend and Davenport were at Faversham Town last season.

Luchford said: “It has been a while since the end of the season but the work hasn’t stopped both on and off the pitch.

“On the football side we have some new roles for some and also some additions to our club.

“It is a tough, but exciting time at present and Richard (Langley) and I have been working over-time to ensure we have everything in place for the summer.

“Over the next few weeks we will publish a few bits to show how we have restructured the club a little bit on the football side and who fits in and where.

“There are a number of things going on this summer at the club and it’s important that we all try and support them to ensure that we have the best possible opportunity to bringing success to this club.”

Luchford explained the new roles undertaken by the trio.

“Dave will more upstairs as such and will also report to me,” explained the former Faversham Town and Horsham manager.

“Dave will help Ian Grieves (who managed Maidstone United’s Ryman Youth League side last season) facilitate the strategy and infrastructure of the football side of the club through the summer and provide help to Ian when and required.

“However, Dave’s main role during the season will be to support me in the first team and also be a bit of a link between the reserves and the first team.

“Dave will watch our opponents and give us match reports for all of our games. He will also do our stats from our games and provide packs once a week to me so I can make the best decisions on a Saturday.

“Dave will also be looking for talent for me when and if required and also help me drive the first team forward to hopefully success.

“Dave’s role is absolutely paramount to the success of the first team.  Dave joins the first team management team and I am very much looking forward to working with him in his new role.”

Luchford is looking forward to working with Canterbury-based Friend once more.

He said: “Bill joins me again for the second time.  Bill will be looking after a number of things at the club as part of my management team.

“Bill will be part of the decision making within the first team amongst his weekly duties.

“Bill has been involved in football for many years, spending most of his career at Dover Athletic.  Bill was my first manager at under 18 youth level at Dover and so I have known Bill most of my adult life.

“When you build a management team you have to have people around you that you can trust. I have worked with Bill for a few years and he is the complete professional and that will shine through once he gets started here.

“Bill’s role is a huge part of the behind the scenes of the football side and sometimes a thankless task, but the value Bill can add to me both on and off the pitch is a key part of what we want to do here.

“Please join me in welcoming Bill and his wife Marion to the club.”

Speaking about Davenport, the club’s new goalkeeping coach, Luchford continued:  “Scott joins me again as goalkeeping coach and will coach all the keepers at the club every week. He is an excellent coach and is a key player in what we want to do here.

“I trust him 100% to make decisions that are best for the team. He understands the mindset of keepers and if he feels that the keeper that day shouldn’t play, then I will follow his instruction.

“He has never let me down, and whilst at my previous club, he was instrumental in bringing a young keeper (Rob French) on to being one of the best in the county.

“Scott will also have an opinion on team matters and is a massive team player and a great character to have around the place as well. Please join me in welcoming Scott to the club.”

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