Whitstable Town player-manager Jamie Coyle looks to strengthen in-form side’s ranks with Jake McIntyre and Will Thomas serving bans and Jayden Boulton out with concussion

A week can be a long time in football - just ask Whitstable player-manager Jamie Coyle!

The play-off chasing Southern Counties East League Premier Division side are on a 13-match unbeaten run. A stoppage-time winning goal earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over Lordswood on Tuesday while Finn O’Mara’s late leveller rescued a 1-1 draw at Snodland last weekend.

But with Whitstable still competing on three fronts, their squad has been hit massively, particularly defensively, in their past three matches.

Captain Jake McIntyre and centre-half Will Thomas are serving four-game and three-game suspensions, respectively, after they were sent off in last midweek’s 2-0 victory at leaders VCD.

Jayden Boulton (concussion) has also been out since that game.

Coyle, 41, said: “Jayden’s out for 19 days.

"With Macca and Will Thomas suspended as well, I’ve gone from being able to rotate the team and make changes to being down to bare bones.

“That’s why we have got three possible new signings coming to training on Thursday night.

“We could have done with Robbie Rees in midfield on Tuesday. His decision-making is brilliant - but we had to put him at left-back - so we’ll have to bring a left-back in.

“We need a centre-half, as well, because I cannot play three games in seven days at my age.

"But we’re excited about the players that are coming in.”

Tempting players to join Whitstable, who have made the FA Vase semi-final and also will be involved in next month’s Kent Senior Trophy final, is a pretty straightforward task.

“That’s a positive,” Coyle admitted. “If we were mid-table and didn’t have anything to play for, it becomes much tougher.

“We’re hoping the success and the limelight the club has had on it will help us in the close season and in