Whitstable Town assistant boss Matt Longhurst has paid a glowing tribute to Wembley-bound player-manager Jamie Coyle.

The duo have guided the Oystermen to the FA Vase Final next month and could yet complete a magnificent treble as they aim for play-off glory and are in the Kent Senior Trophy final this weekend.

But taking Whitstable to Wembley for the first time in their history couldn’t have happened to a better person than Coyle, according to one of the men who knows him best.

“Listen, there's not many people in football, including myself, that people don't ever really have a bad word to say about,” explained Longhurst.

“Jamie’s one of the only people that I've ever come across in football that people just genuinely don't have anything bad to say about.

“As a player, he's immense. He played for me at Ramsgate. He's probably the best signing that I've ever made.

“I then got him to work with me at Erith & Belvedere, and then we wanted to do this job together and he's just been unbelievable.

“The difference that he's made on the football pitch this year, I can't give him any more credit. He's a top guy.

“The players love him. The fans love him. The board love him.

“He's got everything. Not only is he a good coach, he's a good manager, good at man-management. He's obviously a top player and a top person.

“And fortunately for me, I get the opportunity to work with him.

“So I think that these opportunities to get to places like Wembley, come off the back of when you're a real good person.

“Good things happen to good people, and I think he's one of the good guys. That's why we are where we are.”

Whitstable Town are in Southern Counties East Premier Division action tonight (Tuesday) when they travel to fellow play-off hopefuls Punjab United.