Boss seeks new recruit

Lloyd Blackman is hoping to add some experience to his Whitstable Town squad.

Blackman’s Oystermen are yet to get off the mark in Isthmian South East and were knocked out of the FA Cup on Tuesday as they lost their first qualifying round replay at Leatherhead.

They visit Lancing this Saturday, who are also yet to get off the mark in the league, although 37-year-old Blackman reckons Whitstable’s performances have been better than results suggest this term.

He is looking to bring one or two older heads in to bolster his ranks and said: “I think we need a little bit more experience to be able to manage ourselves through games a bit better.

“When things have not gone our way, we’ve needed people who have been there and done it. Unfortunately, those kinds of players are at a premium.

“But we are hoping to sort something out between now and the weekend.”

Lancing were promoted from the Combined Counties League but have lost all four of their league fixtures this term and sit bottom.

When asked what he knows mich about the side managed by joint-bosses Kane Louis and James Rhodes, Blackman replied: “At the moment, not an awful lot, to be honest. We will start doing our research now (following their midweek FA Cup replay at Leatherhead).

“It’s been a difficult start to the season for them as well. But their team talk is probably going to be similar to ours.

“It’s a cliche but there are no easy fixtures.”

Despite ultimately being knocked out, Blackman says he didn’t see a lot wrong during the two games with Leatherhead.

They drew 2-2 at the Belmont last weekend, Aaron Millbank scoring twice, before Cameron Black netted the only goal of the replay to send the Tanners through.

But Blackman said: “I would be the first one to say if the players were not performing well. But I feel we are just not getting the rub of the green at the moment.

“It is just fine margins. I think we need to keep doing what we are doing, and be a bit more ruthless at both ends of the pitch.

“It is a mini-rut which is not reflective of our performances. It sometimes happens.

“Unfortunately for us, we are having it right at the start of the season.”

Whitstable will host VCD Athletic on Tuesday.