Chairman Sam Callander has eased any concerns regarding delays in appointing Herne Bay’s new manager.

Bay initially hoped they would name Kevin Watson’s successor last Thursday and, although no announcement has yet been made, Callander insists everything remains in place.

“I know all fans will want to know who will be running the team,” said Callander.

“But we are just making sure everything is put in place and correct.

“There’s two exciting candidates we’re talking to. Hopefully, we will be able to release more information as soon as possible.

“The club, from top to bottom, is looking to restructure things. We will have an under-23s.

“That’s where the two candidates come from - one for the first-team and one for the under-23s.

“That pathway is quite clear for our youth section and will also help us utilise them in the first-team.”

Bay are still welcoming other people interested in sitting in the hotseat to send their CV, together with a summary of recent experience and contact details, to the club by 5pm this Friday, though.

“We just want to make sure we have not missed anything,” explained 32-year-old Callander.

“You go internal first, but we still have to publicise for external candidates.

“It’s also football, people move so quickly and we don’t want to be caught out.”

Callander is out to have Herne Bay back playing Isthmian Premier football within the next two years.

They played at Step 3 for the first time in their history last season but suffered relegation back to Isthmian South East.

Callander hopes they’ll be back in Isthmian Premier soon. For now, they are looking forward to several Kent derbies at Step 4.

He said: “We’re really looking forward to the local teams coming in the stadium.

“The short-term aspiration is to do well in the league.

“Within the next two years, we hope to be back where we should be and, hopefully, we will be pushing further up the table than we were.”

Among their rivals will be both managers to stand in the home dugout at Winch’s Field in the 2022/23 campaign, Ben Smith having been appointed on a two-year contract at play-off semi-finalists Ramsgate this week while Watson has taken over at Ashford.

Callander, who himself turned out for the Rams in his playing days, said: “They’re great managers in their own rights. Congratulations to Ben on his appointment at Ramsgate.

“But, really, that’s all outside noise. I’m very blinkered when it comes to what other people do and how they prepare.

“Really, it’s about who comes in for us and we’re really excited.”

The new chairman also said a full schedule of pre-season friendly fixtures is being worked on which will be revealed in due course.

Callander intends to have a strong focus on youth at the club. He is the current manager of Herne Bay’s under-13s team in the Kent Youth League and will continue in that role as they step up to under-14s.

He added: “Day to day, I’m constantly in contact with other people at the club to organise on the operational side of things.

“I’m leaning upon some good people.”