Departing Whitstable manager Marcel Nimani has described his spell in charge as 18 months’ worth of great lessons learned.

Nimani surprisingly left the Southern Counties East Premier Division side alongside coach Craig Coles last week. He became Whitstable’s fifth boss in just 13 months in October 2022.

While Nimani and Coles provided some much-needed consistency, also making the Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final this term, they missed out on Isthmian League promotion for a second successive season.

He said: “It was a year-and-a-half of great lessons.

“We came in to create an identity, to change the style of play and push for promotion.

“Results-wise, we fell short in a couple of areas, particularly in mid-season, and we should have done a few things differently in the recruitment - perhaps a bit earlier in the season - in preparation for the winter period as we really struggled to recover fully.

“Recent results proved that. In the last six games, we won four, drew one and suffered a narrow loss, but yet, we were chasing.

“At the same time, we managed to change a lot of things for the better and, ultimately, we left the first team behind in a far better place than it was when we arrived.

“The style of play was good with a clear identity and plan, the recruitment of top-end players was strong and the crowds were good. We could potentially end the season on 73 points and still not make play-offs. That, in itself, sounds harsh.

“Consequently, I believe the club will start next season in a better place for promotion.”

Explaining why he and Coles left with immediate effect, rather than seeing out the rest of the campaign, Nimani says he “refused to accept” the manner in which decisions were set to be made by the board during the summer surrounding the club’s future.

But Nimani would relish the chance to get involved in football again soon.

“I was disappointed with the way it ended,” he continued.

“In any professional working relationship, you expect transparency and a level of integrity, especially when you consider the length of our relationship, and the effort that we all put in to form the relationship that we had.

“While I’m not critical of the decisions that were made, I simply refused to accept the manner in which those decisions were executed.

“I wish the club and all associated with the club nothing but the very best and I hope to see them reach their peak potential.

“In terms of us, we are now excited and focused on the next chapter.

“Most of our involvement throughout our journey in non-league has been with Step 4 and Step 3-calibre players.

“We feel that’s where our strongest ‘player knowledge’ contacts are and we would relish the opportunity to work at that level.

“Having said that, as a management team, our priority for the next chapter is to take on a project - at whatever level - that allows us the time to embed our philosophy.”

Wherever ex-Sheppey coach Nimani ends up next, he intends to stick with the free-flowing football he had got fans used to at The Belmont.

“It’s no secret that, as a management team, we like to play a passing game with fast counter-attacks and quick wingers,” he admitted.

“We coach it well, we enjoy it and, ultimately, that’s what we believe in.

“There are no hard feelings with anyone.

“We move on while thanking everyone for the enduring memories.”

The Oystermen started life without Nimani with player-goalkeeping coach Dan Eason at the helm for a 4-1 victory at struggling Stansfeld on Saturday.

Midfielder Josh Oliver bagged a first-half brace before stand-in skipper Jake Mackenzie and midfielder Mickey Dalton rounded it off in the final 15 minutes after the hosts had got one back.

Whitstable visit Holmesdale this Saturday before they end their campaign at home to play-off occupants Corinthian.