We need experience to win the Kent League title, says Porter

Thursday 07th May 2009

NEWLY APPOINTED Hythe Town boss Scott Porter says he is looking to bring in experienced players that will handle the pressure of winning a league title, writes Stephen McCartney.

The long-term Bulmers Cider Kent League leaders bottled it when the going got tough and that dip in form culminated with VCD Athletic snatching the title to secure promotion into the Ryman League.

Long-serving boss Paul Fisk stepped down at the end of the campaign to enable him to look after his ill wife and the club have appointed Porter as first team manager, having spent seven years at the club in coaching roles.

Porter, aged 30, becomes the youngest football manager in senior football here in Kent, and signing Pat Kingwell (who scored 13 goals last season) and Dave Cook (19) on contracts until the end of next season, will give the Reachfields Stadium outfit an edge when it comes to the title race next time out.

“They’ve had calls from various clubs already and when I took the job over they were the first two I wanted to get signed up for next year,” Porter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’m building my team around them, they are two vital players in the squad at the minute and it’s great news for me and the club that they’ve both signed for another year.”

Porter admits he is grateful to be given the chance to prove he is the right man to lead the club towards Ryman League football in twelve months time.

“The players have got a lot of respect for me and I’ve got a lot of respect for them,” he said.

“It’s proved with what Pat and Dave have done and both signed (contracts) this week for another year, with higher clubs, and they were higher clubs, coming in for them.”

Porter does have a burning desire to clinch the Kent League title in his first season in charge.

“We want to go one better next year and go and win the league,” he said.

“With those two signing it’s a massive boost and we can build the team around those two and hopefully we’ll be adding three or four new signings towards pre-season.

“I haven’t released anyone yet because it’s early days, but there will be people who will be getting released, but no names at the minute.

“We have to weigh up the players coming in a few players will have to go out.”

Reflecting on a disappointing ending to their last campaign, which saw Paul Foley’s side win the title by three points, the turning point coming with Vickers’ 2-0 Easter Monday win at Reachfields Stadium, Porter knows he must add know-how to his squad.

“It was a massive disappointment as we got so far,” admitted Porter, who was Fisk‘s number two. “We were at the top for so long but it showed that the big games we didn’t rise to the big games.

“VCD showed their quality, class and experience to go and pip us at the end. That (experience is) what I will hopefully bring in, in the next four to six weeks.

“A bit more experience to go and push for the title next year.

“The board have backed me and I’ve got the opportunity to go and prove them that I can go and do it.

“Everyone around the club knows what we want and the players that are staying know what we want.

“A few players who I want to bring in know exactly what we want - we want to go and win the league - go one further and win it next season.

“We know what to expect, the players didn’t rise to the big games, the big crowds and the pressure got to them because a few of the lads haven’t been in this situation.

“We’ve mainly got young lads, we’ve only got Hydie (goalkeeper Paul Hyde) and (defender) Tom Adlington with a lot of experience.

“A lot are under 30 and have not won an awful lot, the experience does matter and it proved that with VCD (winning the title).

Visit Hythe Town's website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk