Whitstable Town boss Jamie Coyle reveals club considered signing Phoenix player-manager Jake Goodman - to help replace him - ahead of weekend match at The Belmont

Boss Jamie Coyle has revealed Whitstable had considered signing Phoenix player-manager Jake Goodman - to help replace him!

The title-chasing Southern Counties East League Premier Division Oystermen will return to league matters this weekend, having seen off lower-division Croydon 4-1 in the Kent Senior Trophy last Saturday.

Phoenix, Whitstable’s weekend hosts, are now managed by 32-year-old defender Goodman, who stepped into his role after Darren Anslow’s exit.

And Coyle is an admirer of the former Dover, Margate, Ebbsfleet and Bromley man.

Indeed, one-time defender Coyle has tried to get Goodman to The Belmont and felt he would be an ideal replacement to himself at the back as he hung up his playing boots in a blaze of Wembley glory last term.

“I’ve played against him for years,” said 42-year-old Coyle. “I think he’s a little bit younger than me!

“We’ve actually tried to sign him a couple of times over the last two or three years. We were looking at someone that could fill my role in the team. He’s a top player.

“He’s a real threat from set-pieces and we have got to be aware of that at the weekend. It’s always beneficial, having the manager on the pitch.

“You can change things and also manage the officiating with your experience. I’ve got a lot of respect for Jake.

“He’s at the start of his managerial career and I’m sure he will do his best to make sure they are at the right end of the table, come the end of this season.

“We will need to be aware of their threats for Saturday and, hopefully, we can impose some of our strengths on them.”

While Phoenix find themselves in mid-table, they have some real experience, which includes one-time Football League midfielder Lyle Della-Verde, as well as Goodman.

Coyle said: “We have