Whitstable player-boss Jamie Coyle wants to retire at Wembley next month - after completing a historic treble.

The Oystermen are still in contention for honours on three fronts.

They’re still chasing promotion via the play-offs in Southern Counties East and booked their place in the FA Vase final. The first piece of silverware can be claimed this Sunday when Whitstable face Larkfield & New Hythe in the Kent Senior Trophy final.

Coyle, 41, has tried to retire numerous times in recent years but keeps on putting the boots back on to fill a gap in defence.

But when asked if he’s finally going to retire at Wembley after next month’s Vase finale, Coyle replied: “I bloody hope so. I really do. My assistant Matt Longhurst has been in my ear about it for too long!

Read more: Wembley a dream come true for Coyle

“We had a bit of a wobbly start this season so I came in to shore up the back four with a little bit of organisation and experience.

“I was just hoping that it’s just them little nuggets are going to rub off on the players around me, like Jake McIntyre, Will Thomas and Finn O’Mara.

“But I can’t keep doing it, it’s the aftermath of the games now. I’ve been lucky enough to not have any severe injuries, I think you have to be lucky at 41 to still be playing at this level.

“We’re at Wembley, we’re trying to get in the play-offs and we’ve got a cup final [this] week. We’ve got a busy season still, that could end up being the best I’ve ever had.”

It’s been a remarkable turnaround by Coyle, who might have been looking over his shoulder during the first part of the season.

Appointed at the end of the previous campaign, it proved a baptism of fire for the former Welling and Dartford boss - but he’s come shining through with flying colours.

“It’s a proud moment to reach Wembley, not only for the players, but I’ve seen the amount of work that the board, the volunteers, the fans, everyone associated with this football club has put in behind the scenes,” said Coyle.

“They’ve shown real patience because it was a dark time after 10 games at this football club this year.

“I’ve been through a lot of dark times as a manager and I had the faith and the belief with this management team and the club and the board that was behind us that, with a little bit of patience, we could bring success to this football club.

“We’ve developed and improved the team throughout the year and we’re now seeing the fruits of that patience and the quality, the desire and the togetherness that this team has got now. They’ve got a great future ahead of them.

“It’s hard to put into words. I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some successful teams, whether it’s an assistant manager, a coach, a player-coach. But to see the team give what they've given me throughout this competition, it was a really proud moment for me on Sunday.”

After a 4-1 win over Punjab in the league on Tuesday night, attention turns to Sunday’s clash with Larkfield as the teams meet at the Gallagher Stadium (2pm).

Whitstable won a fiery league encounter between the two sides at the end of last month.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to get our first piece of silverware since we’ve been at the club,” said Coyle.

“It’s going to be a real high-tempo, high-energy week after playing Punjab on Tuesday and training on Thursday. We need to go into that game making sure that we win the cup.

“I think now the level of training and the level of performances in games are only going to get higher because the end result is you want to be starting at Wembley.”