Ernie Batten says there’s added spice as Sheppey meet two significant figures in the club’s recent history over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On Saturday, the Ites host Sevenoaks, who are managed by Batten’s former No.2 Marcel Nimani.

Then, on Monday, they’re off to Hythe Town, where ex-Ites chairman Matt Smith is now at the helm. Both games kick off at 3pm.

“It’s interesting because Marcel was my assistant and he’s at Sevenoaks now, and our ex-chairman Matt Smith has gone down to Hythe as chairman, so there’s added spice in both games really,” said Ites boss Batten.

Nimani served as Batten’s assistant manager during Sheppey’s historic quadruple-winning season of 2021/22.

He left that summer and went on to cut his teeth as a No.1 with Whitstable, a role he left near the end of last season.

Nimani, a school teacher by day, was named Sevenoaks boss in June and is back at Holm Park for the first time this weekend.

“I think he was an integral part of what we did in terms of our organisation,” said Batten.

“I think you find with school teachers they’re very organised, so training was always well structured and well thought out.

“We got together on what we were going to do in training but Marcel carried it out very diligently and over the course of that season it really told because we had very good attendance at training.

“It was enjoyable and we worked together as a good team along with some other staff, and had an unbelievable season.

“I’ve always said managing and coaching is a completely different animal.

“Anybody can be successful, it’s just a matter of experience and seeing how you get on.”

Smith worked in tandem with Batten to rebuild Sheppey as the Islanders climbed through the leagues to reach Isthmian South East, creating a community club to be proud of.

They also transformed Holm Park into the venue it is today.

Smith left Sheppey a year ago, describing a “frenzied social media attack” as the “final straw”.

He took over as Hythe chairman in May and is overseeing the transformation of their Reachfields home.

“Matt made a huge contribution to Sheppey United,” said Batten.

“We certainly wouldn’t be so far advanced as we are without him.

“All the foundations were laid by Matt in the early years and into our development as a club into the Isthmian League.

“Matt oversaw all of that and put a huge amount of time and effort into that.

“I handled the football side and Matt handled the running of the club. Again, it was another good partnership.”

Batten always urged Smith to take no notice of trolls.

He added: “He left the club under a little bit of a cloud, I think.

“Sometimes you get embroiled in something and I think he had a little bit of a spat with supporters and that type of thing.

“He got fed up in the end because he’s very passionate about what he does and puts an awful lot into it.

“Sometimes it’s easy for someone to make a flippant comment and then you kind of think what am I doing all this for?

“I always used to remind him, you’re talking about a handful of people out of the 500, 1,000 fans we’ve got, but it’s always those ones that upset the applecart.”

Dan Bradshaw, Jacob Lambert and Sam Itauma scored second-half goals as Sheppey won 3-0 at North Greenford in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday.

They’ve been drawn at home to Hanwell Town in the first qualifying round on August 31.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half and were fortunate to go in 0-0 at half-time,” said Batten.

“They missed a penalty and hit the post and had several other chances.

“Second half, we completely turned it around.

“We made a couple of substitutions, altered the formation a little bit and put in a good performance.

“Overall, at the end, we were worthy winners with the three goals.

“In a game like that, it was a warm day, a huge pitch, and the grass was very dry, that first goal was always going to be important.”