Porter must deliver promotion, insists Hythe chairman

Sunday 26th July 2009

HYTHE TOWN chairman Paul Markland demands that Scott Porter clinches the Kent League title in his first season in charge of the club, writes Stephen McCartney.

Porter, 30, has been promoted from Paul Fisk’s number two, to first team boss at Reachfields Stadium, and Mr Markland has made it clear exactly what he wants this season.

Hythe finished three points behind double-winners VCD Athletic last season and missed out on promotion into the Ryman League.

And that’s exactly where Hythe want to be next summer.

“Every season we’ve gone one or two places better than the previous season and we were runners up last season,” Mr Markland told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“There’s only one more place to go and that’s to be champions. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

Mr Markland says Reachfields Stadium is ready to host Ryman League football.

“People have been working on the pitch and the ground all summer, a new lick of paint, it’s looking brilliant,” he revealed.

Porter has stepped into Paul Fisk’s shoes. Fisk, who was forced to call it a day as his wife fell ill last season, has accepted an invitation to become a board member.

And the chairman admitted he has put Porter under immense pressure in only his first season as boss.

“I think there’s plenty of pressure on him,” Mr Markland said. “It’s now down to the new management team to deliver.”

With Slade Green officially confirming their withdrawal from the Kent League yesterday, Hythe’s chairman is concerned that there are now only 15 sides in the division.

He said: “The Kent League obviously need to do something to grow, whether it’s merging (with another league), whether the (proposed) step six (league) does it or not, I don’t know.

“I don’t want to see it fail, on the other hand, we want to go up to the Ryman.”

Hythe, who began their pre-season campaign with comfortable wins over Vandanel Kent County League sides Hollands & Blair (5-1) and Lydd Town (5-0), were defeated 1-0 at Sittingbourne yesterday, courtesy of a 46th minute strike from Ben Yiadom.

Yiadom, 25, who had signed for Kent Leaguers Erith Town earlier in the month, says he will turn out for the Dockers on the opening day of the season, but Sittingbourne manager Gary Abbott would like to sign him on Ryman League forms.

Hythe, who were without Porter yesterday, continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to Ramsgate on Monday night.

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

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk.

Ramsgate v Hythe Town

Pre-Season Friendly

Monday 27th July 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN