My wife has told me to take the Whitstable job, says Lane

Friday 16th April 2010

AFTER taking four points form their two midweek games, Whitstable Town head round the M25 this weekend to face Corinthian-Casuals knowing that three more points will secure caretaker manager Mark Lane and his Oystermen Ryman One South football for another season, writes Mike Green.

Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Thursday’s 1-0 win at Homelands against Ashford, Lane said: “We came out of the blocks early today and thankfully we scored early doors. One of things that happens when we get our noses in front early on is that we’ve tended to hold onto leads.

“The back five today were fantastic, but it wasn’t the prettiest of games out there was it? But we had to dig in and I’m happy we got the three points. Three points that takes us closer to safety and we don’t have to rely on anyone else – the balls still very much in our court.

“We go to Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday and we’ll look to get three points there too. We’ve got two home games next week to hopefully ease us over the line.

“It’s been a good play for us to play over the past five or six weeks and the crowd have been great. Some of the boys took some deserved stick but now its right that they get the praise that their hard work deserves.”

The Oystermen’s revival seems two fold – the eventual arrival back at the club of Ian Pulman once his international clearance had finally been received from the Australian FA, and the departure of manager Mark Munday.

Lane admitted, “Given the current form of Ian, I do wonder what would have happened if his international clearance from Australia had come through quicker than it did.”

Lane then had a word for his predecessor, saying, “Mark Munday is a great bloke and I can’t say how well I get on with him and Paul Lamb and I think its just a shame that they’re not here to see the job through.

“He had the respect of the players – they wouldn’t have played for him if they didn’t, but I suppose its just one of those things that happens in football.

“We all know that when we take a mangers job in football, at some point down the line you’re going to lose your job. It’s the nature of the beast.

“I’ve spoken to Mark and I’ve spoken to Paul at length over the past three or four games and I’ve been given the help that I’ve asked for.

“I can’t say anymore about Mark or Paul except that I respect them both greatly and they’re a cracking couple of lads!!

But whilst there’s sympathy for the past, Lane is also a realist, and so has he got a week in charge at the Belmont? Or will it be longer?

The caretaker boss gave us an unexpected reply – he said, “I’ve been asked the question if I’ll carry on past the end of the season, and at the moment my remit is just to keep Whitstable up, and we’ll stick with that for the time being.

“I’ve had a chat with my wife and she wants me to carry on for whatever reason – I don’t think she wants me at home to be fair! – I think though at the end of the day we’ll se where we go at the end of the season and then have a chat with the Chairman. They’ll decide what they want to do for the sake of the football club and we’ll have that meeting and decide what we’re going to do from there.

“I am enjoying it, but it’s always nice when you’re winning at the end of the day. It might have been a different story if I’d have lost three or four on the trot and were struggling to stay up. It’s not done yet – we’ve still got three games to go.”

Three games that start this weekend at Corinthian-Casuals, and a game that Lane is fully aware will be as tough as they come.

“Saturday’s another tough game, as Corinthian-Casuals is always a tough place to go to,” he said.

“The Casuals seem to be perennial strugglers in this league, but this year they’ve done very well and have some very good players.

“It’s harder for us after playing Tuesday and Thursday this week, but we’ll take the roll call on Friday and we may have a shuffle round. The main thing is that we go there with as strong a team as possible and try and nick something.

“Hopefully Sam Denly will be back for Saturday from his “slightly” strained ankle and apart from that no one has come off the pitch tonight and told me that they’ve got a problem – so fingers crossed!”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Corinthian-Casuals v Whitstable Town

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 17th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At King Georges Field, Queen Mary Close, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA