Aslan Odev wants to emulate former Sittingbourne manager Steve Lovell and work in the Football League one day.

Odev – Brickies’ caretaker boss – is aiming high after getting his big break at Woodstock Park.

His first target is to land the permanent job as Nick Davis’ successor at Sittingbourne but long-term he’s ambitious to push on and work in the professional game.

Lovell won promotion during two spells in charge at Sittingbourne and now finds himself in charge at League 1 Gillingham.

So who’s to say Odev can’t achieve his dream of reaching the Football League?

Odev, speaking to Sittingbourne’s website, said: “I wouldn’t want to say that’s where I’ll end up or anything like that but that is the aim.

“That is where I want my career to go, that is what I aim for, to try and go as high as I can and see where I end up.

“But, at the same time, I also know the short-term is a very real thing and I need to make sure that I get Sittingbourne playing the right way and getting the results and getting the fans on my side and the players on my side and everyone else on the same page.”

Odev, who has brought in former Sittingbourne player Ian Varley as his assistant manager, has lost his first two games in charge.

They’ve dropped to 16th place in Bostik South but Odev says he is prepared for the stresses of management.

He said: “If you have a good team with you and you have the players on your side, it makes it a lot easier.

“I think if you include the fans as best you can, you speak to them as much as possible, give them what they want as well, it makes life a lot easier.

“When the results don’t go your way you need to make sure you’ve got that good foundation with you.

“In terms of the stress, it’s OK. Someone’s got to do it and I’ve always felt that I’m capable of doing it.”

Sittingbourne are scheduled to play eight games in March – five of them at home.

Weather-permitting, the month starts with back-to-back home matches against Greenwich Borough on Saturday and Kent rivals Ramsgate on Tuesday.