We'll be capable of dealing with either section of the league, insists Foley

Thursday 03rd June 2010

NEWLY appointed Chatham Town manager Paul Foley says he is looking forward to the challenges of managing the club.

Foley will be joining the Maidstone Road outfit after resigning from the manager’s role at VCD Athletic, where he guided the Vickers through the most successful period in their history taking them from the Kent League title into the Ryman league Division One North last season for the very first time where they finished a very creditable 8th place.

The 38-year-old son of former Arsenal and Millwall assistant manager Theo Foley said after his appointment, “'I am delighted to accept the offer of manager of Chatham Town and I am already looking forward to the season ahead, be it in the North or South section.

“Having met with the Chairman and some members of the committee to discuss the position, I felt that the club has the scope to improve and move forward and there are planned strategies in place to improve off the pitch.

”It appears that the club needs to engage once more with its local community; to get some more people through the turnstiles and to give them something positive to associate with the town! And the best way to do that, is to get a team that is getting results on the pitch so that’s our job. I am looking forward to that challenge as I have done throughout my career!”

When asked about his decision to leave VCD, Foley commented, “It was not an easy decision to leave as I had six great seasons there as captain and then manager but it felt like the right time to move on and I pretty much made my mind up back in February.

“However, if required to I will, with Jeff’s (Jeff Talbot - Chatham Town’s chairman) knowledge, continue to assist with VCD’s appeal against relegation from the Ryman League as much as I can.

”The Chatham job came up recently and I am very pleased to be offered the chance to be part of the next chapter in the club's long history.

“The recent news regarding the proposed re-allocation to the North does not affect our enthusiasm for the job in hand, if anything we are at an advantage as we have just competed in that league and competed well.

“I am sure the club would rather be in the South, given the local Kent derbies and better attendances but I will let the committee deal with the FA on any allocation issues.

“We will just be focusing on getting a squad of players ready for Ryman Division 1. The next few weeks will be busy but come August 21st we will have a strong squad that I’m sure will be capable to deal with either section of the league.”

Article courtesy of www.chathamtownfc.net