Together, Ernie and I will get this great football club back to where it belongs. However, contrary to popular belief we will not buy our way out of this league, says Sheppey United chairman Matthew Smith

SHEPPEY UNITED assistant manager Barry Morgan says he wants the club to finish in the top six at the end of the season.

The Ites came away from bottom three side Tunbridge Wells with a point in a 1-1 draw at Culverden Stadium last Saturday.

“Last weekend’s game was a tough one and we were pleased to come away with a well-earned away point,” said Morgan.

“We played well in the first half as did Tunbridge Wells in the second, so it was a fair result for me.”

Sheppey United go into tomorrow’s home game against fourth-placed Whitstable Town sitting in tenth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 28 points from their 17 league outings.

Ernie Batten’s side are 13 points adrift of leaders Sevenoaks Town and five points adrift of sixth-placed Croydon, with three games in hand.

Morgan said: “We’ve been a bit thin on the ground as a squad in recent weeks.  We’ve made a couple of signings to bolster the squad, hopefully we can crack on in 2018.

“To be where we are in the table at Christmas is a fair yardstick as to where we are and hopefully we can push on for a top six finish.”

Sheppey United chairman Matthew Smith told www.sheppeyunitedfc.co.uk that the team have “underperformed” this season.

“As chairman I have to keep my council when I speak publicly about comings and goings at the club but I know how hard Ernie has been working to get players in and is just as disappointed as you when things don’t work out and they leave at the drop of a hat.

“I was involved with Ernie Batten’s surprise 60th party after the Rusthall match, and to hear him speak about the passion he still has for our great club is immense and makes me proud to have him as our manager leading the team.

“Together, Ernie and I will get this great football club back to where it belongs.

“However, contrary to popular belief we will not buy our way out of this league and we will continue to try to sign and retain excellent young players from around the county.

“In the next couple of seasons our youth section will start to bear some fruit with players coming through from the U18’s which as a football club we are extremely committed to.”

Visit Sheppey United’s website:  www.sheppeyunitedfc.co.uk

Sheppey United  v  Whitstable Town
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 30 December 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Holm Park, Queenborough Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent ME12 3DB