There's no pressure on Sittingbourne as everyone's expecting Dulwich to win, says Marc Seager

MARC SEAGER says there is no pressure on Sittingbourne when they travel to promotion chasing Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.



Seager, 39, took temporary charge of Sittingbourne for four games when boss Joe Dowley was away on holiday in Cuba and Seager guided the side to two draws during this period.

Sittingbourne remain third-from-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 29 points from 33 games – 12 points clear of a Whyteleafe side who occupy the sole relegation place.

The Brickies have seven league games left to play and should avoid a relegation into the Kent League but Dowley returns to take his side to Champion Hill to face a Dulwich Hamlet side rated as one of the best three sides in the division.

Gavin Rose’s side lie in second-place (or joint-top) in the table, with 74 points from 34 games, level on points with Bognor Regis Town and only three points clear of Brighton-based outfit Whitehawk, who had three points deducted earlier on in the season for fielding an ineligible player.

When asked whether Sittingbourne will avoid relegation this year, Seager said: “They should do!  The performances that I’ve see, then no, I think they’re definitely safe but they have to keep getting the points.

“We’ve got some tough games coming up.  We’ve still got Dulwich, Bognor, Folkestone and that but they showed last Tuesday against a good Hythe side that we can go there and get a point.

“The team spirit is getting there.  There’s characters’ in the changing room now that have made them strong that they maybe didn’t have a while ago.

“Hopefully we can finish the season on a high and look forward to Ryman football next season.”

Seager feels Dowley’s side can spring a surprise result at Champion Hill on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tough place,” warned Seager.  “At the end of the day there’s no pressure on them, on us going up there because everyone’s expecting Dulwich to win.

“We’re at the wrong end of the table so the lads’ aren’t under any pressure.  We’ll go up there with no pressure on them and express themselves and you never know with football.  There’s no reason, with the players that we’ve got in the changing room, that they can’t go up to Dulwich and put in a good performance and get something from the game.”

Seager admitted he will miss management, especially as he stood down after last Saturday’s defeat to Eastbourne Town as he couldn’t commit to the job for four weeks owing to prior arrangements.

He said: “Yes, I will miss it.  I’ve really enjoyed it.  The football club have made me feel very welcome, the players have been absolutely fantastic, but we had a deal.  My previous engagements that I can’t get out of now and we’ll move on and see what the future holds.”

Deep down, Seager wants to get back into a technical area next season.

“People know that I’m back in football a little bit so if the offer’s there I’ll listen to anything,” said Seager.

“It’s really shown I’ve missed it.  It feels I’ve never been away really, having that buzz in that technical area. 

“Like I’ve said before, I’ve always been around football and the break done me the world of good.  I’ve been around football since I was seven or eight non-sop so to have that little break and spend a little time with my family and obviously nearly losing my little son when I first stepped out, so I had other issues but now I’ve had a good break and I’ve come back here and I didn’t know what to expect but I’ve come back in and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Dulwich Hamlet  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 24^th March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD