Faversham Town are looking for their next long term manager who can carry on the philosophy of the club.

Club chairman Paul Bennett has been delighted with the large number of applications they have receieved for the role since Ray Turner stepped down.

Mr Bennett wants someone who can continue developing the younger players in the club and bring them into the first team.

He said: “The guys on the board did tell me straight off and when we put it on our website within 30 minutes I had emails.

“I made the deadline November 5 as we didn’t want a knee-jerk reaction for people who were uncomfortable where they were. It gives people time to think what they could do when they come to us.

“It’s a case of narrowing down the CVs and interviews.

“There will be members of the board who will be looking for a safe pair of hands and are experienced. There are other members of the board who are looking for someone who is younger and wants to show themselves.

“I’m sitting in the middle trying to take on the views of both camps. For me, I have always been about the youth and bringing the youngsters through. So we would like somebody who follows that sort of philosophy of the club and wants to continue that.

“We are looking for the long term manager who is fully engaged with what we are trying to do as a club.”

Mr Bennett did say it felt odd not having Turner in the dugout after seven years as manager and thanked him for all he had done at Faversham.

He said: “It is strange not having him in the dugout. I remember him coming through the ranks and taking over the senior team and it is a bit strange.

“You do become part of the main core of the club. I did have a chat with him and we went through a few things and I completely understand his reasons for it.

“After so many years, one doesn’t bounce through the doors as you used to in any profession. I wish him all the best going forward and it’s time for us to fill that gap.”

Clive Walker has been taking charge of the first team while they search for their next manager and Mr Bennett was grateful to have someone who was able to step in at a time when they needed it.

He added: “I spoke to Clive after Ray resigned and asked if we could lean on him for a bit of support and he was straight on it.

“He’s got such a wealth of experience and the set up. It was great for him to step in while we find the right person.”