New Whitstable player-goalkeeping coach Dan Eason is being backed to become a manager by boss Marcel Nimani.

The Oystermen’s No.1 is now splitting his playing role with responsibilities as part of Nimani’s backroom staff.

Eason has replaced Charlie Himbury, who left to join Isthmian Premier Lewes.

“Dan is planning to get into coaching and management,” said Nimani.

“With the departure of Charlie - who had a great offer to be Lewes’ goalkeeping coach - Dan has stepped up and surprised me. He’s a brilliant goalkeeping coach.

“He’s so good at delivering sessions. He’s taking the youth goalkeepers and he’s getting involved with recruitment as well.

“I think he will make an excellent manager one day.”

Experienced former Herne Bay and Hythe keeper Eason has now made more than 300 club appearances.

Tom Holmes has been appointed first-team coach and Nimani explained: “Tom was part of our under-23s coaching staff previously. I’ve watched him deliver some of his sessions and he’s a UEFA B Licence coach.

“The boys have bought into working with him, he’s a good coach.”

Whitstable suffered a 3-2 FA Cup First Qualifying Round defeat at home to Isthmian Premier Wingate & Finchley in front of a crowd of 453 last weekend.

But Nimani, who was impressed with how the visitors pressed, took plenty of heart from their display.

He said: “There was a lot to take from the game.

“From our perspective, we were playing in front of our supporters and wanted to give them something to be proud of – and I felt we did that.”

The loss meant Liam Gillies’ brace proved in vain at The Belmont.

Nimani, who had also seen midfielder Gillies score one and set another up in the previous round against VCD, said: “Liam has had a good FA Cup run. He scored in both the games.

“He’s settled in now and has a leadership role. Ironically enough, we had spoken on Thursday at training that we needed to get more goals in certain positions.

“Where Liam plays was an area we identified, and he did what we asked him to do.”

Nimani wants to see more potency in front of goal from some of Whitstable’s more offensive players, though.

He said: “There’s no point being a ball-based side, in the way we are, if you cannot execute your chances. We need to be better executioners.

“Ultimately, if it continues to repeat itself, it’s an area we’ll need to address.

“But I’m confident we have got players with the ability to score goals. They’ve done that this season - but not enough in comparison to the amount of chances we have created.

“It’s definitely something we’re keeping on the radar.”

There’s back-to-back Southern Counties East Premier Division away matches for the Oystermen, who are at Sutton Athletic this Saturday and Deal on Tuesday.

Nimani said: “We have got a really challenging seven days.”