Chairman Stuart Fitchie has been delighted with the calibre of applicants for Herne Bay’s vacant managerial role - but he isn’t expecting to make an appointment before the weekend.

Ben Smith stepped down as boss after Bay’s 3-2 loss at fellow strugglers Corinthian-Casuals last Saturday - having led the club to a historic promotion from Isthmian South East last season.

“I have been really impressed,” Fitchie said.

“It’s quite refreshing, really, to see how other people view Herne Bay Football Club.

“We have never had to do this before so it’s new, but it has been really encouraging. It’s not going to be an easy decision - or taken lightly - but we have to move swiftly.

“There’s been some really creditable applicants. It’s a shame we cannot sort of merge them together into one person!

“We just need to make sure it’s the right person for the club.”

• Ben Smith stands down as Herne Bay's boss

Injured ex-Ebbsfleet and Crewe midfielder Mike West took temporary charge on Tuesday as second-bottom Bay lost 3-2 in Isthmian Premier at home to Carshalton despite a second-half strike by winger Kieron Campbell and a Rory Smith penalty.

West, 31, hasn’t enjoyed being in charge - feeling he has a few years left as a player despite currently being injured - but he’s likely to be in the dug-out once more this Saturday when Bay host Canvey Island.

Midfielder Charlie Weston, returning centre-back Luke Ilsley and left-back Kacper Gruszczynski were brought in for the Carshalton game and Fitchie has been impressed with the attitude of interim boss West.

Fitchie said: “Westy did an incredible job. I spent the second half near the dug-out and the way he led the team was a real credit to him. It was thrown on him at short notice but I want Westy on the pitch.

“I had a long chat with him after the game, we want to make sure we’re in a good position on Saturday. I will be speaking to Westy about the applicants.

“We will work as fast as we can, but I imagine Westy will be in charge on Saturday.”

Despite losing to Steve McKimm's Carshalton, Bay’s chairman saw positives during the game at Winch’s Field.

Fitchie said: “The first 15 minutes of the game, it was good, we were strong and solid.

“But they got a free-kick which they scored from, that felt like it deflated us.

“Westy had a chat with them at half-time and it helped that the crowd were quite vocal in the second half.

“If you look at the 90 minutes, we were unfortunate not to get a point out of the game.”

It’s been a challenging few days for Herne Bay and Fitchie since Smith’s resignation. The manager stepped aside after three years at the helm having been appointed in 2019.

“Saturday evening, it was quite a tough one,” reflected Fitchie. “I had a chat with Ben and he informed me he was going to stand down.

“It was a whirlwind of emotions, I would not be the chairman of the football club if it was not for Ben.

“I’m the chairman but I would ask his opinion on some chairman matters. I do think he has a sound head on his shoulders on football-related things.

“He has been in the game longer than me. We still continue to get on really well.”

Ex-Canterbury City boss Smith is the only permanent manager at Herne Bay who Fitchie has worked with - but the pair’s relationship goes back well beyond that.

“I played a few games for him at Canterbury City,” revealed Fitchie, a left-sided player during his playing days. “I was a bit-part player, really.

“We have been involved in football together for a long time. We clashed heads a few times but nothing more than a butting of heads. As always, the progression of Herne Bay Football Club was our number one priority.

“Where the club is now is quite crazy. I remember my first meeting as chairman, I got a bill for £600 for a new floodlight. Now, we have our own floodlight system.

“We always want things to be better, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Fitchie isn’t ruling out giving Smith another role at the club further down the line.

He said: “Once Ben has had some time away, if he decides to go into management again, that’s a possibility for him.

“But if he wants to take up a different position, there will be something at Herne Bay Football Club.

“I would love to have him around because I’ve spoken to him in the last three years more than my partner!”

Applicants for the manager’s position will need to submit a CV to stuart.fitchie@btinternet.com.

Herne Bay are away to Ramsgate in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.