New Cray Valley PM boss Steve McKimm cannot wait for the new season to arrive as he returns to Kent football following a season at Carshalton Athletic.
In one of his first interviews since his appointment following the surprise departure of Tommy Osbourne from the Millers hot seat, McKimm has told KSN that he cannot wait to get started back in Kent football at a level where he hasn’t managed before.
“Haven’t been away long and after enjoyable times with Gravesend and Tonbridge, I guess that you could say I’ve come back to where the heart is despite being a Surrey boy!”
“It’s how football works – I got a phone call to have a meeting with the club and what I put forward, the Club liked,” McKimm told us.
“I’m going into a Club to build on the great work that Kevin Watson did, and Tommy took on last year. If I can keep the majority of the players and add three or four to it – maybe five – hopefully, we’ll be able to take them onto the next level.”
“That’s the aim and if I can do that great. What went on in the past stays there and all I want to do is add to that going forward.”
“They had a great run in SCEFL that got them into the Isthmian League along with the great run to the Final in the Vase giving days that those players and staff will never forget.”
“The Club is a progressive Club – Play Offs year before last and last year missing out to a 94th minute goal on the last day of the season.”
“I’ve done my homework on the Club and the players – it’s an opportunity that’s come up and after what happened to me last year, I wouldn’t have taken any job lightly after being promised that I was joining a two year project, bringing a whole new squad in and building for a second year only to be let go after the first year even though we got more points, more wins and a higher position!”
“But I’ve come to learn that that’s football now and nothing’s guaranteed. I’m out of the bubble now where I think everything is smooth sailing – you’ve got to work hard which is something that I always do to be successful.”
“And if what you do isn’t good enough for the powers that be then inevitably, you’re going to have to move on.”
“All I Know is that I’ll work hard for the Club and try to get them to where they want to be and after meeting the Board and the people involved, they come across as a very progressive club.”
“I’ve never managed at this level before, and it’s a new ball game to me but I think with my knowledge and know-how of a lot of players, teams, and opposition, it should be OK.”
“It’s one of those – there are a lot of players floating around at that level as there’s a lot of money flying around as there is at all levels at the moment.”
“Money seems to be going through the roof at the moment as each club has to work within their means. I know a lot of the teams in the League and a lot of the managers in there – it’s not a case of the blind leading the blind as I know what I’m going into.”
“Everything will be difficult, and you have to get your stamp on stuff. Players buy into it and that’s how success is built…”
Picture supplied by Cray Valley PM.