New manager Kevin Watson wants his whole family to feel part of the project at Herne Bay - even if his daughter may need some convincing!

Watson was named Bay’s boss on Sunday and took charge of his first match on Tuesday - a 3-1 Velocity Cup home win over Sevenoaks - after he stood down as Cray Valley manager last week.

Upon finding out Watson had left the Isthmian South East outfit, his daughter said: “You’re not going to Arsenal, are you dad?”

Alas, it’s not quite the glamour of the Emirates Stadium but, with a new 3G pitch installed at Winch’s Field this season and their clubhouse nearing completion, Watson hopes his family will take to the club, too.

He said: “She’s a bit in shock! But I’m sure she’ll be down to a game soon and will get to understand the club.

“That’s quite important.

"We’re going to spend quite a lot of time here so it’s important that it becomes part of the family.”

Watson departed Cray Valley after last week’s 5-0 success over Faversham, but didn’t spend much time out of management.

He explained: “Obviously I stepped down from my role at Cray Valley with the intention - I was quite clear - that I didn’t want to hang around. If the right opportunity presented itself, then I would look at that.

“Then this opportunity presented itself. I think it’s a really interesting project.

“It’s something I’ve not experienced before in terms of the task at hand but it’s one we will embrace and work really hard at.”

Watson took in Isthmian Premier basement boys Bay’s 4-1 loss at Horsham on Saturday while Adam Flanagan, his new assistant, watched another match in the league.

“It was a good opportunity as a relative neutral to stand and watch a game,” said Watson.

“It’s quite different when you are on the sideline, giving out information. There’s potentially more emotion at that time.

“Adam went to watch another game in the league so I was verbalising some thoughts on some players to him and it’s been quite nice for him to see that in action on Tuesday.”

Bay are at home to fellow strugglers Brightlingsea this Saturday.

Having started their season largely away from home, and with their home fixtures being played at Ramsgate's Southwood ground, they now have a run of matches in front of their own fans coming up.

Eight of their next 11 league fixtures will be at Winch’s Field and former Chatham boss Watson hopes those games can help build a relationship with the club’s supporters.

“We want to engage the fans,” he said. “That’s really important and the fanbase here is really strong.

“That’s one of the attractions for us as a management team so it’s important we build a rapport and relationship with them.”

One player the new management will not have at their disposal is Kieron Campbell, who departed prior to Watson taking the hot-seat and has signed for Isthmian South East basement boys Faversham.

The winger is someone Watson - who gave a start to Courtney Barrington against Sevenoaks - knows a bit about after he faced him last season.

“Kieron’s a really talented lad,” said Watson.

“But it was his decision to move on so we move on as well.”

Watson will also have the chance to welcome the likes of striker Rory Smith, midfielder Mike West and full-back Jack Parter back into the fold once they have recovered from injury.