Kane vows to take care of unfinished business

By David Watters

Hastings United

Nigel Kane is looking forward to taking care of unfinished business after getting off to a winning start in his second stint managing Ryman South Hastings United.

A last minute Evan Archibald goal saw Kane come away with a 2-1 victory from Horsham on Wednesday night following his appointment 24 hours earlier as the successor to Dom Di Paola.

Kane, pictured, stepped in as caretaker manager at The Pilot Field when Di Paola stood down on New Year’s Day after the club’s 2-0 reverse at Hythe Town.

The only manager to earn promotion at the club in the last decade after replacing Neville Southall in November 2005, he left by mutual consent in December 2007 after two years at the helm and master-minding promotion via the play-offs to the Ryman's top flight in May 2007.

Kane said: "I feel that I’ve got unfinished business at the club. My first stint was relatively successful and I want this second stint to be even more successful.

"I’m not a miracle worker. Things don’t change overnight, but I’m determined to be successful this season and also moving forward.

"We’ve got to inject a winning mentality into the squad. If we concede a goal we become deflated very quickly. We need to keep believing that we can get something out of games."

Kane returned to the club last February as part of Terry White’s coaching team and agreed to head the club’s football development programme in a new role when Di Paola arrived from East Preston in October.

He was interviewed to replace White in October but was ultimately forced to rule himself out of contention due to work related commitments. Now he is already looking ahead to competing at the right end of the table again.

He added: "I achieved it [promotion] in my first full season and I would like to think that this time we can achieve it in my first full season, next season.

"I’ve told the players that I expect us to finish in the top 10 this season and then aim for promotion next season."

In a statement on their website, club officials confirmed that Kane will be assisted in the dugout by Mark Stapley with John Masters remaining as part of the backroom set-up. Ryan Light is returning to the club as first team coach.

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