Seager asks for positivity for Whitstable's make-or-break week

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Marc Seager has banned negativity for their game against Corinthian-Casuals tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen will climb above the famous amateurs from Tolworth with a victory at the KRBS Belmont.

The Kent side, with 12 points from their last eight league outings, go into the game sitting two places above the relegation zone, level on points with tomorrow’s opponents, and Seager, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk late tonight, says it’s an important week for the club as they bid to beat the drop from the Ryman League.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a very tough game,” he said. “Corinthian-Casuals are going well themselves, they’ve suffered two defeats in their last nine games, so it’s really going to be a tough game.

“We’ve done well over the last three or four games; a good win away to Croydon Athletic and even though we lost in the dying minutes against Eastbourne Town, the performance was good and last week (at Leatherhead) was a massive win for us.

“It kept us in touch with the teams above; if we get a win tomorrow, with games being called off, hopefully we can move up a couple of places.”

With Crowborough Athletic destined to return to the Sussex County League, fifteen points from safety at the foot of the table, any one of six clubs, at the moment, could slip underneath the line.

Whitstable Town’s next three games are all against sides in the bottom eight in the Ryman One South table, but Seager says his side’s form against these type of sides will maintain the club’s Ryman League status.

“If we put more daylight between us and the teams below us, that’s a positive,” admitted Seager.

“We’ve got a big week, we go to Burgess Hill, who are two points above us, and next week we go to Whyteleafe, who are five points above us.

“If we can get some points on the board, it puts daylight between us and the two relegation spots.”

However, if Whitstable suffer their 18^th league defeat of the season tomorrow, then it won’t be the end of the world for the Belmont boys.

“You just said yourself it’s a must-win, I don’t look like that,” replied Seager. “It’s a six-pointer, it’s not a must-win game. If thing’s don’t go to plan, we’re not going to be relegated tomorrow.

“We’ve got to look at it on a positive frame of mind. We’re at home, a great opportunity to get three points.

“When you look at our record with teams in and around us, it’s not too bad. We’ve beaten Chipstead, Crowborough, Walton Casuals, Corinthian-Casuals away.

“We’re in our own mini-league and these are important. When we pick up points from the teams in the play-off’s, they’re bonuses.”

Whitstable can NOT drop any places tomorrow as both Chipstead and Walton Casuals’ games have fallen victim to the weather.

And with chairman Tony Rouse saying the Oystermen’s game is 70% in favour of being played, Seager has issued a rallying cry to Whitstable - and other - fans getting right behind his side.

“Hopefully we can get the right result and people may want a bit more and come to other games,” he said.

“We don’t want the sort of stuff going on at Folkestone, I know it’s only one or two idiots, but Whitstable fans are superb and we want them right behind the side - they did at Leatherhead.

“So many times, since my short career as a manager, the supporters’ at Whitstable have been our 12^th man and they need to continue to do that.”

So if things don’t go according to plan tomorrow, let’s all keep positive and ensure that Seager’s side come out triumphant.

“Let’s go out and have some fun, give it everything we’ve got, play with a smile, express ourselves and give it our best shot,” said the manager.

“If my players go out and enjoy themselves and have fun, Whitstable Town will still be playing Ryman League football next season.

Liam Quinn (suspended); Gareth Cornhill (suspended); Jon Neal (ankle) and Rob Thomas (ankle) are expected to be ruled out, but the influential Clint Gooding, who needed stitches in a cut eye last week, will face a fitness test before the game.

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

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

Whitstable Town v Corinthian-Casuals
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 7^th February 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At KRBS Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP