We must find the right man, says Margate chief

Sunday 14th February 2010

MARGATE director Keith Piper says he will be sifting through the applications for the two vacant managerial jobs at Hartsdown Park.

Players John Keister and Wayne Wilson took charge of team affairs for yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to AFC Hornchurch, as the Thanet club begin to search for Mark Butler’s departure after just 12 league games in charge.

“We’ve got to start sifting through (the enquires) and decide whether we’re going to advertise or interview the ones we are looking at that have (already) applied,” Mr Piper told www.margate-fc.com.

“We’ll move as quickly as we can to bring somebody new in.”

In terms of the timing for a new appointment,” as soon as possible” is the timeline that the directors would like to work towards.

Terry Yorath, Neville Southall and Butler have all been in charge of team affairs during this troubled season, which sees Margate currently third-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table, four points adrift of safety.

But Mr Piper added, “But the reality is we’ve got to try and get it right and that will take as long as it takes.”

Keister, meanwhile, was pleased with the professionalism of the side, despite losing to Jo Flack’s 17th minute winner at Bridge Avenue.

“After everything that’s gone on in the week, I think we’ve come here today and we’ve given a good account of ourselves,” Keister told www.margate-fc.com.

“They’ve had one chance, and they’ve scored, but apart from that they haven’t actually hurt us.

Reflecting on the events of the departure of Butler and his assistant manager Steve Beeks, Keister, who has returned from suspension following a misconduct charge, the former Sierra Leone international said:” We’ve said to the boys, look, that’s part and parcel of football. We move on, things happen in football, that’s for the football club to deal with.

“We’ve got a responsibility to go out there and represent this football club, so that’s what we’ve got to try and concentrate on.”

Keister revealed that turning into management or coaching is “an ambition of mine”.

He added: “ It’s just an opportunity to work with these boys and try and do well for this football club and the supporters, they deserve it!”

Margate face Billericay Town - a side that are fourth-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table - in a must-win relegation six-pointer on Tuesday night.

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com

Margate v Billericay Town

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 16th February 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ