Robbins targets Kent League return - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Thursday 18th January 2007

Former Ashford Town coach, Mike Robbins 34, has left Rye United by "mutual consent", writes Stephen McCartney.

Robbins, the UEFA B Licence holder who still lives in Ashford, spent over two years at the Homelands club took no less than 15 of his former reserve players to the Sussex side, and literally every one moved up to senior football.

“I loved my time at Rye, and it will be a positive notch on the CV and definately something that will help me and my future footballing employers,” Robbins said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It’s just a shame that things didn’t work out.” he said. “There were some very funny rules in the Sussex cups, and as our pitch was not always playable through the abysmal weather, all three senior cup matches that ended in defeat were switched from home ties to away ties.

“One on a freezing night, the Wednesday before Christmas, meant over a 250 mile round trip for the majority of the side.”

When asked about the decision, Robbins stated that there were a few decisions taken by the committee or not taken - that disappointed him and that made him feel that as a Kent lad, he was not getting the support that he perhaps deserved.

He said: “Its kind of ironic that I had all but matched last season’s points tally with 21 games to spare, and even received the dreaded vote of confidence last week, but I felt that the timing was right.

“I believe that the Chairman wants to put his own man in there. A couple of things that were totally unfounded were said, and made me feel that my position at the club was unattainable.“

Meanwhile, Robbins, who last season coached at Hythe Town, is targeting an immediate Kent League return.

“I will be offering my services at any level to all the Kent sides in due course as I don’t want the wife to get too used to my company on a Saturday,” he said.

When asked at what level he would like to get into, Robbins replied: “At this stage I am not picky. I know that I could do a job in the Kent League, and I would like a challenge.

“However, I may even return to the rewarding pleasures of reserve football as there are some massive sides here in Kent.”

Robbins can be contacted by email: mike_robbins@ntlworld.com

Please mention that you read this article on www.kentishfootball.co.uk when making contact.