Glowing reference from Whitstable Town boss Jamie Coyle convinces forward Dean Grant to rejoin the club as he scores two in first three games in latest spell with the Oystermen

A glowing reference from Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle helped convince Dean Grant to make his latest club return.

The vastly-experienced forward is back at The Belmont, having started the season at Southern Counties East Premier Division rivals Hollands & Blair.

Grant has quickly found his feet for Whitstable once more with two goals in his first three matches this term, as he works alongside Coyle and No.2 Matt Longhurst.

“I’ve known of both of them for a number of years,” he said. “I’ve never played with or under them before but I’ve played against them.

“In terms of playing against Matt, that was probably when he was a manager in the league above. I probably played against Jamie when I was last here and Jamie was at Glebe.

“They have both made me feel respected. When I spoke to them, they were complimentary about myself as a player but, also, what I could bring to the changing room.

“I suppose some people might look at my career and say ‘Oh, he’s played for a lot of clubs’. But I don’t see negatives in that.

“It means, when I do play for new clubs, there’s players there I have played with and that connection already.

“Jamie said I was one of the best forward players he has played against in the last seven or eight years. He said ‘They don’t really make players like you anymore’.

“As compliments go, they don’t get much better.”

Grant has had plenty of first-team spells at Whitstable and even started out in the club’s under-18s set-up before he joined Dover under then-manager Andy Hessenthaler.

“It’s nice to be back,” admitted Grant, who scored the only goal in Friday’s away 1-0 Kent Senior Trophy triumph over lower-division Canterbury.

“I have lived locally now for the last 10 years or so.

“I’ve done football coaching