Kentish Football 
Whitstable Town unveil Peter Nott as their new manager
Wednesday 19th January 2011
WHITSTABLE TOWN have tonight unveiled Peter Nott as their new manager, writes Stephen McCartney.
The former Maidstone United manager was unveiled as Mark Lane’s successor at 11:30pm tonight.
The club received 50 enquires and the board sifted through 31 CV’s and a three-man panel consisting of Joe Brownett (chairman), Gary Johnson (vice-chairman and secretary) and board member Andy Short interviewed those short listed.
The board reconvened tonight and fully discussed all parties before unanimously ratifying the appointment of Maidstone resident Nott.
The Ryman League Division One club will be holding a Meet The Manager evening next Thursday at The Belmont starting at 8pm and all interested parties are welcome to attend.
The Oystermen are still searching for a first team pyhsio as well as a commercial manager - and Gary Johnson says caretaker manager and first team coach Steve Nolan has a future at the club, having picked up eight points from their last five league games.
He said: “It is hoped that caretaker manager and first team coach Steve Nolan will remain at the club and is seen as an integral part of the appointment of Peter Nott.”
Ironically, Nolan was Nott’s coach at Ryman Premier League club Maidstone United shortly before Nott parted company with the Stones as the club was taken over by new investors towards the end of last year.
In a statement published on the club’s website www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk, chairman Mr Brownett said:
“Delighted and pleased to have Peter at the club. He stood out amongst some very fine candidates as the man to lead the club forward.
“At his interview, when my vice chairman Gary Johnson and Andy Short spoke at length to Peter; they were as impressed as I was at Peter’s enthusiasm and desire to move Whitstable forward. His vision for the way the club should be run matched our own; Peter is the right man at the right time for Whitstable Town Football Club.”
Mr Johnson added: “Like Joe, I was delighted that Peter chose to apply and was very impressed with the way that Peter wanted to be involved at every level of the club. Peter will be overseeing the reserves and the U18’s and brings a wealth of experience at spotting potential young talent. Whilst he was at Maidstone he was responsible for spotting Chris Smalling, who went onto to Fulham and then Manchester United, Smalling has since played for England. In addition he progressed four young players through to the England Schoolboys”
Mr Short said: “We had a great response for the position of manager at Whitstable and interviewed some terrific applicants; I believe that the club have the right man who will concentrate on the football side of things, whilst we as a committee will do our utmost to give Peter all the support he needs.”
Nott, who was relieved of his duties at Maidstone United earlier in the season when a new owner took charge of the Ryman Premier League club, says he is looking forward to his first game in charge, a Kent derby away to Chatham Town on Saturday.
Paul Foley’s side eased their relegation fears with a convincing 4-1 home win over nine-man Fleet Town on Tuesday night to leapfrog over the Hampshire side.
Nott, who takes over with the club sitting third-from-bottom in the Ryman League Division One South table with 20 points from 24 games and two points above Whyteleafe, who have four games in hand, added: “It’s great to be back and I can’t wait for Saturday!”
Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk
Chatham Town v Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 22nd January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES
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