Herne Bay boss Ben Smith hopes return of club legend Dan Lawrence as under-18s manager can improve link between Bay's youth section and first-team

Manager Ben Smith hopes the return of a Herne Bay legend can help improve the link between the club’s youth section and the first-team.

Dan Lawrence has rejoined as the club’s under-18s manager, replacing Mark Harvey, with the midfielder having left Southern Counties East Premier Division outfit Canterbury City.

Lawrence has played twice under Smith - at City and Herne Bay - and with Bay not planning to run an under-23s team during the 2022/23 season, the relationship between their under-18s and the first-team is expected to be even more vital.

“He’s a friend of mine. I have known DL a long time,” said Smith, who added they will be taking “one thing at a time” when asked if Lawrence - who had a stint as City's joint-manager during their 2021/22 season - would also be involved in a first-team capacity.

“He has played for me as well. It’s really nice to bring him back to the club in a managerial capacity.

“He will forge the link between the youth section and the first-team. It’s a bit of a gap because we will not have an under-23s next year.

“We don’t want to run before we can walk but we have some really talented boys in the under-16s.

“I’m sure, with DL at the helm, it [Bay’s under-18s] will be a success.”

Smith wants to give talented players from the area the opportunity to ply their trade with the club if they are good enough.

He added: “We have had some players from the area go on and do really well.

“Sam McCallum signed for a club who were in the Premier League and there is also someone like a Stuart King.

“He may not have signed for a professional team but he scored a lot of goals and helped Maidstone and Folkestone get promoted. He had a fantastic non-league career.

“If we can give some Herne Bay lads like them