Returning Herne Bay manager Ben Smith discusses decision to rejoin Isthmian South East side as he replaces Liam Friend at the helm

Returning Herne Bay manager Ben Smith doesn’t mind how he is viewed by others - as long as he brings success.

Smith is back at Winch’s Field, replacing Liam Friend at the Isthmian South East side.

In his first spell as Bay boss, he guided them to their inaugural Isthmian Premier promotion in 2022 - only to quit three months into the following season. He also won the Isthmian South East title with Ramsgate last year before he left in early November.

Smith and No.2 Ben Brown will work closely alongside chairman Matt Barman as they aim to bring the good times back to Herne Bay.

“The fans are quiet and, on the forums and all that, it’s been quiet,” said a typically bullish Smith. “I want people talking about Herne Bay.

“That might be how arrogant Herne Bay are but I feel Herne Bay is being seen as a nice club.

"I don’t mind being hated. Ultimately, it’s about bringing success back.

“Matt’s said it’s been about saving the club, then stabilising it, and now it’s about moving forward.

“I don’t mince my words. I know what I can bring, that’s not just me, that’s my management team, as well, and we want to be successful.

“That’s a lot of pressure. It might not happen in year one, it might not happen in year two.

“But I’m very confident it will happen.”

Smith feels he has unfinished business at Bay as he also revealed the legacy he had created at Ramsgate was part of his decision-making process before he made his managerial comeback.

He said: “When I left Ramsgate, I had zero intention of being involved in football.

“The question of ‘How do you better what you did last season?’ It’s kind of impossible. It was very much a case I was done for now.

“It didn’t quite work out this season at Ramsgate due to a number of factors. A lot of