I'm more determined to get back into the game, says former Hythe Town boss Scott Porter

SCOTT PORTER says he is feeling determined to get back into football management after leaving Hythe Town at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Porter, 36, who lives in Folkestone, enjoyed many good times while in charge at Reachfields Stadium.

He guided the club to The FA Cup First Round in November 2010, losing 5-1 away to League Two side Hereford United, the first Kent League club to reach that stage of the competition for 53 years.

That Cup run galvanised the club and they sealed the Kent League title at the end of that season, taking their place in the Ryman League Division One South, where they finished a respectable eighth-place in their debut season.

Porter also clinched the Kent Senior Cup by winning at Dartford, after causing upsets against Ebbsfleet United and Dover Athletic en-route to winning the showpiece Final at Princes Park.

Hythe Town finished in the play-off zone by finishing in fourth-place in 2013 and secured a top eight finish in his last season in charge of the club.

“I have been without a club since I left Hythe Town at the end of the 2013-14 season, where I guided them to a respectable eight-position,” said Porter.

“I left because of a disagreement with the board over the following seasons playing budget.  I don’t want to go into too much detail other than to say I thoroughly enjoyed my five years at the club, where I worked with some excellent people bringing Ryman League football and national exposure during our FA Cup run where we got to the First Round proper.

“I have now had time to recharge my batteries and reflect over the past two years and feel I’m ready to return to the dug-out.

“I have enjoyed my time away from the game, although I have kept in touch with things by watching a lot of Ryman League and Kent League (Southern Counties East Football League) football.”

Porter who casts a passionate figure in the technical area always got the best out of his players at Hythe Town and insists he has calmed down during his time away from the game.

“I know some people have an issue with my touchline behaviour but being away for two years I have taken a look at myself and realise that although I am a winner, perhaps I did overstep the mark a few times with my antics,” admitted Porter.

“Two years is a long time in football as well as life and I feel I have grown as a man and would like to think I would behave differently now, although I won’t stop having that will to win.

“I feel my record speaks for itself in league football where I have a 50% win ratio in three Ryman League seasons and a 60% win ratio in two Kent League seasons.

“Every player I have managed, I have got the best out of them and class my man-management skills as a real asset.

“For the five seasons I managed Hythe I built up a real team ethic and we had an unbelievable team spirit, which was one of the main reasons for our success.

“I would like to emphasise that I have lost none of my contacts since being away from the game and still talk regularly with many Ryman League managers about players.

“Writing this has made me more determined to get back into the game I love and feel ready to put some hard graft in to get back to where I feel I belong and that is being a successful team and developing players.”

Meanwhile, Ian Cox departed as the sole manager of Whitstable Town on Monday night with the club still rooted to the foot of the Ryman League Division One South table and facing relegation into the Southern Counties East Football League.

A statement from the club said: “After some consideration Ian Cox has decided to step down as first team manager, he felt he could do no more after 10 losses from 13 games.

“The club has accepted his decision considering the recent poor run of performances and wish him all the best for the future.

“The chairman and committee feel the club is a sleeping giant and will continue to implement the new football structure which will allow us to make the right appointment in due course.

“Until that decision has been made, Colin Patching and Bob Reardon will take up the reigns and steer the first team in a positive direction.”