Sittingbourne manager Darren Blackburn confident of keeping triple player-of-the-year winner Taylor Fisher
Published: 05:00, 27 April 2022
Darren Blackburn anticipates interest in Taylor Fisher after the defender cleaned up at Sittingbourne’s presentation evening - but is confident he’ll stay put.
Left-back Fisher was named supporters’ player-of-the-year, manager’s player-of-the-year and players’ player-of-the-year after Brickies’ final game of the season on Saturday.
The 21-year-old - the son of former Sittingbourne player Dave Fisher - was a worthy winner of the three main prizes after an impressive debut campaign at Woodstock.
Boss Blackburn has already spoken to the defender about next season and wants to reward him with a pay rise.
“I’m sure there’ll be interest in Taylor,” said Blackburn.
“The first players you look at are the ones who’ve won trophies and he’s picked up three on Saturday.
“I’ve already spoken to Taylor and his dad. He’s really grateful for the opportunity here and the trust we’ve put in him.
“When he came to me he wasn’t an attacking-type full-back.
“I think one of the reasons he wanted to come out of VCD was perhaps the way they play.
“They play with very attacking wingers, so the full-backs don’t need to get forward like they do with us.
“It’s suited him here and he’s slotted in really well.
“I’ve looked after him, we get on really well, he says he doesn’t want to go anywhere and his dad says he’s happy here and thinks he’s young enough to do another season here.
“He’s only 21, so he’s got loads of time to kick on. He’s just done 38 games at this level for the first time and been part of a good defence and he’s got forward well.
“I’ve already discussed with him a pay rise for next season to show our appreciation for what he’s done for me.
“I’d like to think he’ll stay unless he gets an absolutely ridiculous offer from a club a couple of leagues higher that he can’t refuse.
“But, even then, he could go somewhere and play two or three games and make a mistake and be out of the side.
“We’ve stuck with him because we believe in him and we want to help him become a better player and move up the leagues eventually.
“At the moment, at 21 or 22, you need to be playing regular first-team football.”
Johan Caney-Bryan collected the golden boot, having scored 14 goals, while Clive Miller was named supporter-of-the-year.
Sittingbourne finished 10th in Isthmian South East after losing 2-0 at home to Corinthian in their final game.
They flirted with the play-offs for a large chunk of what goes down as a successful campaign for a club who’ve struggled at the wrong end of the table in recent years.
“If I’m honest it’s bit of a shock to the system to be finishing 10th and celebrating but success is measured in lots of different ways and I’ve learned that,” said Blackburn.
“To our club and our fans, they really appreciated not being involved in a relegation battle and to be able to go to football and enjoy it, and be involved at the right end of the table is massive for them.
“I’m pleased we’ve given them a season to be proud of, regardless of what other clubs are doing. If the fans think it’s a successful season, then it’s been a successful season.
"They’ve been brilliant and I love them to bits.
“Every week, I’ve tried to put out a team, even when we didn’t have the strongest squad, to get results for them.”
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Craig Tucker