Boss Jamie Coyle remains reluctant to put his boots back on - despite Whitstable Town’s depleted defensive options - as Oystermen suffer successive away defeats to Glebe and Staplehurst Monarchs

Manager Jamie Coyle remains reluctant to put his boots back on - despite Whitstable’s depleted defensive options.

The Oystermen have now suffered back-to-back defeats after a five-game unbeaten run.

They lost 2-1 at Glebe - where Coyle played last term - in the Southern Counties East Premier Division on Saturday after last Wednesday’s 1-0 Challenge Cup defeat at lower-division Staplehurst Monarchs.

Defender Jake McIntyre was red-carded against Staplehurst and, providing Whitstable’s appeal against his dismissal is unsuccessful, he will now have a ban to serve. Centre-back Will Thomas missed the contest at Glebe through injury and Finn O’Mara has recently left for Isthmian Premier Hastings.

But asked about playing himself, 41-year-old Coyle insisted: “It’s the last resort.

“I’ve been in this situation for probably the last 10 years where I want to concentrate on being a manager. But I always end up putting the boots on and playing 25 games in a season!

“We have still got Kai Jeffrey, as well, who has a bright future in the game, but we need to manage his minutes so that he’s fulfilling his potential.

“I certainly don’t want to put myself in and stunt someone’s development in the game.

“Our whole remit at Whitstable was bringing the average age of the squad down and blooding youngsters into the first team.

“But that also needs to work with picking up points and that’s something we need to do better at.”

Coyle was able to call upon his ex-Glebe boss Craig Nelson, now at Isthmian Premier Lewes, to help out as he headed back to Foxbury Avenue.

“I’m really good friends with Craig Nelson,” he explained. “He was the manager at Glebe.

“He did us a massive favour in allowing Peter Ojemen to play on Saturday.

"He’s not played for a