Whitstable have named their new management team who will take charge from next season.

Jamie Coyle, an ex-Ramsgate boss, replaces Marcel Nimani at the helm of the Southern Counties East Premier Division side. The latter surprisingly left with immediate effect earlier this month, with the club missing out on promotion for a second successive season.

Coyle will be supported by Matt Longhurst - most recently director of football at Sheppey.

The pair have joined The Belmont club on an initial two-year contract and will work alongside player-goalkeeper coach Dan Eason, who has been in interim charge for their final fixtures of the campaign.

After winning 2-0 at home to play-off occupants Corinthian in their last game of the season on Saturday, a club statement by sixth-placed Whitstable read: “We’re pleased to confirm that Jamie Coyle has agreed to become the first-team manager at Whitstable and will take up his position once the current season has finished.

“Jamie will be supported by Matt Longhurst, who is also joining us. The two have built a good working relationship from their time together at previous clubs and are keen to team up again for the project at Whitstable and are initially coming in on a two-year deal.

“Long-serving goalkeeper Dan Eason, who has this season moved into a coaching role, will also be staying at the club as part of the new management team.

“We believe that together they will be able to help us achieve our key objectives, which are to gain promotion back to the Isthmian League while also providing a pathway to senior football for the best of our talented young players progressing through our ever-growing youth section.

“We welcome Jamie and Matt to Whitstable and wish them both, along with Dan, every success.”

Defender Coyle, 40, has been a key playing part of Glebe’s Southern Counties East Premier Division promotion push this term.

Coyle has previously been player-manager at Welling and joint-boss at Dartford, as well as assistant to Jay Saunders at Margate.

Like Coyle, Longhurst also has taken charge of Ramsgate.

Other managerial roles he has had have included being at Corinthian, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Erith & Belvedere.

Explaining his departure from the Isthmian South East Ites, Longhurst said in a statement: “I would like to thank Ernie (Batten, manager) and Tony (Hughes, chairman) for the opportunity to join such a fantastic club.

“I have been made to feel part of the club since day one and there are so many people to mention that have made that possible - Lee Allen (communications director), Kimberly (Whitington, treasurer) and Lucy (Thomsett, administration assistant and club assistant welfare officer) - along with Tony, have worked alongside myself on many projects and I wish them all the success moving forward.

“I have been offered a role more on-the-playing-field with the players and with the team and it’s something I’ve personally missed and something that I couldn’t pass up on – but I would like to say thanks to the supporters, coaches, players and staff for a great experience and I hope to see you all again soon.”

The primary focus for Coyle and Longhurst for the 2024/25 season will be to ensure Whitstable return to Isthmian League football by earning promotion having not played at the level since 2022.