Chatham boss Scott Lindsey has hailed the influence of Folkestone manager Neil Cugley on his coaching career.

Lindsey served as player-coach under Cugley more than a decade ago and his methods left a lasting impression.

He went on to have great success, helping Forest Green reach the Football League as assistant manager to Mark Cooper before taking the Chats job.

Lindsey said: "I've got good relationships with most of the managers in Kent but especially Neil.

"I first got into coaching with him when I was still playing at Folkestone and he's someone I've always kept in contact with.

"He's someone I respect and he's doing a fine job there.

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"Neil had great relationships with players and that's something I've learned from him.

"It's not all about being a good coach and being out on the training ground with your own philosophy and your own way of playing, you get the best out of players by being good around them.

"That's something he was - he was a very good man to work with.

"He was very bright in the dressing room and I took a lot on board from him in terms of how to be around players."

Cugley allowed prolific striker Ian Draycott to join Chatham on a month's loan at the end of last week.

He scored twice on his debut in a 3-0 win over Glebe and will be one to watch when Chats visit Bearsted in the FA Vase second round this Saturday.

Bears are the leading scorers in Southern Counties East with 43 goals in just 14 games.

They scored eight for the second time this season against Erith & Belvedere last weekend and Lindsey has a plan.

"We're going to play with 10 at the back on Saturday," he joked.

"Fair play to Bearsted. They had a great result against Erith & Belvedere and we'll need to be fully at it.

"I've said to the lads, the hardest thing to do in football is to win a game.

"You've got 11 men trying to stop you and no matter you play, you're going to get the same will, determination and desire from the opposition and it's up to us to be better than them.

"I know this is going to be one hard game."

But while Lindsey is well aware of Bearsted's attacking threat, he won't be making special plans.

He added: "I don't get too hung up on what the opposition are doing or what their strengths are.

"I want to completely concentrate on being being really good and efficient at what we do in order to win games.

"We're going to have to learn about the opposition during games.

"Whether Bearsted are open or not, it doesn't matter because we're not going to change what we do.

"Plan A is to do what we do and Plan B is to be better at Plan A."

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