We must learn from our mistakes, says Seager - EXCLUSIVE

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Marc Seager takes his side to established Ryman League giants Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday looking to improve on their poor away form, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Oystermen have picked up just two wins and two draws on the road during their first ever campaign at this level this season and Seager, whose side lost 3-2 at Burgess Hill Town in midweek, insists he will lift his players for the Champion Hill clash.

“To get something away from home is just around the corner,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’ve got to lift ourselves and bounce back and don’t be down (about the defeat at Burgess Hill).”

He added: “The players are all on pittance money compared to other teams.

“The lads are disappointed in their performance, it’s up to me to lift them and we’ll try to get that illusive win at Dulwich on Saturday.”

But Seager is relishing his side’s next three games; at Dulwich Hamlet; at home to Cray Wanderers on the first day of March; and a trip to another giant, Kingstonian seven days later.

“It’s a fantastic league and everything that’s happened this year is everything I was expecting,” said Seager.

“I’ve played at this level and I’ve won this league, it’s a very good level.

“There’s no easy games, everyone beats one another. In this we knew it was going to be tough.

“You never heard me running away with my mouth in the summer. I always knew it would be tough.

“The difference (between this league and the Kent League) is you get punished for your mistakes but you get a higher class of player here and whether you’re playing against the top or bottom teams, players in this league are good enough to hurt you and that’s where were going wrong at the moment.

“And the fact that we can’t seem to get rid of that number three as well because that (was the thirteenth) game that we’ve conceded three goals this year and that’s the other disappointing thing. If you’re going to concede goals you’re not going to win games.”

Nine points clear of the drop zone, Whitstable Town should be playing Ryman League football next season and Seager knows what he wants next season.

“We would all say we’d like more money and all that which we would and the club know that,” he said.

“The club are doing their best to give me more money but they can’t give me what they haven’t got so I don’t sulk or get the hump about it - we just get on with it.

“We are very young that’s our problem. I think our average age is 23. We could do with a couple of older heads in there, just players that have got a little bit more experience of this level but to get players like that you need a bit of money and that’s something we haven’t got at the moment.”

But Seager insisted that a return to the Kent League after just one season has never crossed his mind.

He added: “I’ve never contemplated relegation. We knew it was going to be tough but I’ve had every confidence that we’d stay up.

“We’re not a bad side but we have to cut out the mistakes. The young lads are learning, they’re very inexperienced, it’s been a hard learning curve at times.

“This year will do them the world of good, a good pre-season and they’ll be raring to go next year.”

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

Dulwich Hamlet v Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 23^rd February 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD