Simon Halsey will be considered as Whitstable’s next manager after chairman Gary Johnson revealed his reasons for sacking Will Graham.

Graham was dismissed last Thursday having taken charge of just five league games since succeeding Jim and Danny Ward in the Belmont dugout.

The Oystermen didn’t pick up a point during his brief tenure and Mr Johnson decided to make a change before Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Walton Casuals.

He said: “Will texted me on Wednesday saying he was considering resigning but he said he would think about it overnight and call me on Thursday.

“When I spoke to him on Thursday, he didn’t know what to do.

“We had such a big weekend coming up, with the FA Cup and the local derby against Herne Bay, that a decision had to be made.

“We’d gone five league games pointless, a position that none of the other 71 Ryman League clubs were in at that time.”

With one eye on the future, Mr Johnson added: "Simon has stepped in with coach Ricardo de Vivo and he’s done himself no harm at all.

"What we don’t need now is to give another rookie manager a chance. I’d like a manager with Ryman League experience or somebody with considerable experience at the next best level.

“Those people are few and far between but I believe Simon does want the job. He’s a different person from when he was here 10 years ago with Marc Seager."

Read the full story in Thursday's Whitstable Gazette