Faversham Town summer signing Frannie Collin discusses almost playing for the Lilywhites in the play-offs and his relationship with manager Tommy Warrilow and No.2 Alex O’Brien

New Faversham signing Frannie Collin has revealed how close he came to playing for the Lilywhites in their failed play-off bid.

The vastly-experienced Collin agreed to join the ambitious Southern Counties East Premier Division side from Hythe this week alongside striker Johan Caney-Bryan.

Having finished as runners-up to champions Deal, Faversham suffered Play-off Semi-Final shoot-out heartache at home to Corinthian in April.

Collin had agreed to link up with Town boss Tommy Warrilow’s team for the season run-in on a dual-registration basis but, ultimately, wasn’t fit enough to feature.

“I was probably going to play,” he said. “They asked me to play because Sam Hasler was suspended for the play-offs.

“But unfortunately, I had a back problem and their squad was a big enough squad in the end anyway.

“I went and trained the week before their last league game (a 2-0 victory at Punjab United). I think the aim was to probably try and get an hour in that last league game but it wasn’t meant to be.

“With the shoot-out and everything, unfortunately, it didn’t work out for them last year - but it’s a club that’s ambitious and, hopefully, we can get promotion.”

Collin and Warrilow have always remained close, the duo previously having worked together at Ashford and Tonbridge, where Collin scored 29 goals to claim the National League South golden boot in 2013.

He said: “I speak to Tom regularly.

"The same with Obz (Alex O’Brien) - his No.2 - I speak to them nigh-on weekly, even when I was at Hythe. We always talk football and try to catch up for a beer.

“When I left Hythe, having worked with him at a few clubs, it was a no-brainer for me.”

Now 37, Collin no longer regularly plays up front but, instead, controls things from midfield