Popular Matt Bodkin becomes Chatham Town’s strength and conditioning coach after deciding to hang up his boots

A popular figure has been appointed as Chatham Town's strength and conditioning coach after deciding to hang up his boots.

Evergreen midfielder Matt Bodkin, now 40, has taken the role as part of chairman-manager Kevin Hake’s backroom staff.

The former Gillingham, Dover, Margate and Maidstone player helped England Veterans retain the Seniors World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, alongside new Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle and keeper Lee Hook - who was part of Ben Smith’s Ramsgate management team last season - last month.

“We have added to the off-the-field staff by employing Matt Bodkin as our S&C coach,” said Hake, who has seen Danny Kedwell leave as player-assistant to take charge of Ashford this summer.

“Bods is someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with in all my time at Chatham and has been a fantastic servant to the club so, when he said he was going to hang up his boots, it was the logical next step.

“He has tremendous respect from the players as he’s been there and done it, and I know he’s devised some great personal programmes with the players.”

Among those Chatham have signed during the close season as they aim to go one better than they did last term when they reached the Isthmian Premier play-off final are ex-Gillingham skipper Stuart O’Keefe and defenders Bailey Akehurst and Charlie Naylor from new divisional rivals Dover.

Hake said: “I’m really pleased with the recruitment.

“The squad has a good blend of both experience and youth, which we hope will help us go one better than what we did last season.

"Our pre-season schedule has loads of games, so it gives us a good chance to look at everyone.

“We’ve made some good new signings and I’m excited to see how they get on, but I’m also equally excited to see how