New manager Keith McMahon has described Whitstable as a sleeping giant after taking the hot seat at the Belmont.

McMahon, who has also brought in Steve Wait as his assistant, takes charge with the Oystermen second-bottom in Isthmian South East with one point from six league fixtures this season.

It is McMahon’s first managerial role since he left VCD Athletic in June last year.

He says he has a strong affiliation with Whitstable, having battled them at the top-end of the old Kent Premier League just under 15 years ago when Marc Seager was in charge of Whitstable and McMahon was at the helm for Thamesmead Town.

McMahon said: “It has been a tough year or so since I left VCD.

“With Covid, the only advantage is that I have probably only missed something like 16 games in total!

“It was always my intention to make sure the next club was the right club for me. I have had quite a long affiliation with Whitstable, going back to when Marc Seager was the manager there.

“I was the manager at Thamesmead Town around the same time.

“It is the main club in the town, and the crowds they get there are excellent - they get right behind them home and away.

“It seems like the right club for me.

“I think it is a little bit of a sleeping giant, to be honest.”

Whitstable are still yet to register their first victory of their 2021/22 campaign and lost 4-3 at home to Cray Valley on Saturday. Harry Stannard (2) and Tom Mills scored their goals in the defeat.

McMahon missed that match but had watched their 4-0 FA Trophy loss to Chichester the weekend before.

“They (Whitstable) have got some good players,” McMahon said. “They probably need a couple in because they have a few injuries at the moment.

“But I think it just needs a little bit of experience.

“But most players are committed to a club at this stage of the season so it might take a little bit of time to get players in but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Ex-Wycombe and MK Dons midfielder Ben Harding had been in caretaker charge after Lloyd Blackman’s resignation last month - but Harding will now revert back to his previous role as player-coach.

“Ben will stay at the club. He will stay in his role,” McMahon confirmed.

“Steve Waite will come in as my assistant manager.

“But everyone else will keep their roles and we will go from there.”

Whitstable don’t have a match this Saturday and were next due to be in action at Hastings on Tuesday in the league.

But their Kent Senior Cup semi-final at home to Gillingham from the 2019/20 season, delayed significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic, will now be played on that date instead.

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