Right stuff needed to beat the drop

Johnson says he is hunting for a manager with “character, contacts and steel” after parting company with Simon Halsey on Tuesday night.

Halsey, who replaced rookie boss and former head coach Will Graham at The Belmont in September, stood down after their 3-1 reverse at Chipstead in Ryman South.

The loss left the Oystermen propping up the table and on Wednesday the Whitstable Town chairman set a deadline of Saturday November 21 for potential candidates to apply for the post at the Kent club.

Johnson, pictured with the 2015 Martin Tarrant Trophy, said: “Will and Simon both did their best and now we need a manager with the character, contacts and steel to lift the club, turn around our fortunes and preserve our Ryman League status.

“Ideally, we need to hear from an experienced manager, someone with Ryman League or similar experience who has extensive knowledge and contacts and will be able to set standards at the club that others will follow.

“We are a well-supported club who’ve just enjoyed two of our best ever seasons, 2013-14 when we reached the last 32 of the FA Trophy and last year when we finished eighth in Ryman South, so it is an attractive post and whoever comes in will have the full support of everyone here to quickly turn around our season.”

Applications, including a covering letter and football CV, should be sent to the Whitstable chairman at: chairman@whitstabletownfc.co.uk. For more information potential successors to Halsey can also call the chairman on 07957 424810.

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