Seager wants a bigger budget to match his play-off aspirations next term - EXCLUSIVE

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Marc Seager wants a bigger budget next season to enable him to build his squad - and push for the play-off’s next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen stretched their unbeaten run to six following their 2-2 draw against Kentish rivals Ashford Town last night.

Now fifteenth in the Ryman League Division One South table, Seager is pleased with his side’s end-of-season form but he wants to maintain this progress next season.

The club are the seventh best supported club in the division with an average gate of 250 and Seager would like the club to push the boat slightly more next season.

“I’m only confident in keeping my players if the chairman comes up with the finances,” Seager said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning.

“These players have put themselves on the map this season and have shown that they can handle it.

“A lot of them have gone from being Kent League players to Ryman League players and are comfortable at this level and with that comes offers from other club’s and that’s something I can cope with.

“Hopefully the chairman can come up with some money. We’ve worked on a shoestring but I want to be in a position where I can carry on taking this club forward.

“I’m always looking forward. Obviously I’d like to bring in two or three players but I’ve got a lot of belief in the squad.

“When I’m in the changing room and look at my players I don’t see a side that’s fighting for relegation - I see a side capable of fighting for the play-off’s.

“I want the club to give me the ammunition to keep this squad together.”

Last night, Whitstable earned a point following their 2-2 home draw against Ashford Town - a club with the finances to mount a serious bid for the title next season - at a freezing cold Belmont.

With regular goalkeeper Kevin Fewell out through work commitments and Rob French being recalled by Liam Daish to sit on the bench throughout their game at Blue Square Premier game at basement club Droylsden, which ended in a 1-1 draw, goalkeeping coach Mark Lane, 47, came out of retirement.

Lane had replaced Fewell during a Kent Senior Trophy tie at Greenwich Borough last season.

And Seager paid tribute to the Whitstable Town “legend”.

“47-years old, he keeps himself really fit,” said Seager. “He does all the pre-season with the boys and he’s a fantastic goalkeeper coach and a massive part of my coaching staff - it’s a team within the team, me, Simon (Halsey), Laney (Mark Lane) and Graeme (Brown).

“I knew he was a little bit nervous before the game, worried about letting people down but I knew he wouldn’t let anyone down.

“He’s a great keeper and used his experience and came through it.

“The term legend is used too loosely around football and Mark Lane is a legend.

“We’re not talking about Sunday League football and playing for the Dog and Duck, this is the Ryman League against a quality side like Ashford, and is testament to him and his ability.

“He was unlucky not to get to the penalty (when Mitchell Sherwood equalised for Ashford after 88 minutes to make the score 2-2), he had a great game.

“He’s a great lad and a great character and a big part in the success at Whitstable.”

Whitstable end their campaign with a trip to Croydon Athletic tomorrow before welcoming Whyteleafe to Belmont Road seven days later.

“We wanted to try and have a good end of the season and we want to do that,” said Seager.

“After the win at Sittingbourne, I said to the boys we wanted to end the season unbeaten.

“It will be a fantastic end to the season if we win our next two games.

“No. I don’t want it to end. I wished we had 22 games because the form we’re in we’re playing like a play-off side.

“That’s two defeats in our last eleven games - that’s play-off form.

“The boys have bounced back from some criticism, from supporters and myself and they’ve reacted in the right way.

“They’re getting their just rewards for their efforts. The form we’re in at the moment we don’t fear anyone and we want to end the season on a high.”

Despite Croydon Athletic presently sitting in 14^th place - one place and one point better than the north Kent side - both sides go into the game on good form.

And Seager said: “Croydon are the inform side at the moment. If you look at the form guide us and Croydon are in the top four or five.

“It will be a great game, two teams that have dabbled with relegation fears this season and have climbed into good midtable respectable positions and I’m expecting a good game.”

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

Croydon Athletic v Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 19^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Keith Tuckey Stadium, off Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 6DN