Things could have worked out very differently for Tonbridge Angels coach Lloyd Blackman had Jay Saunders not picked up the phone.

Blackman felt he was done with football after resigning as Whitstable boss in September 21 but a call from Saunders changed everything.

Saunders, then in charge at Margate, was looking for a new No.2 and turned to his old Maidstone team-mate.

Blackman accepted the role and hasn’t looked back, following Saunders to Tonbridge with the pair now approaching the end of their second season at Longmead.

Together with player-assistant Tom Parkinson, it’s a management team that complements each other nicely and one that’s helped Angels enjoy another decent campaign in National League South.

“Jay’s really good to work with, as you can imagine,” said Blackman. “We’ve known each other a long time and I’ve known Parky, who’s a really good coach, a long time too.

“I absolutely love it. I thoroughly enjoy it and I’m learning a lot. I don’t miss being a No.1. I had a go at doing that and when I stepped away from Whitstable I didn’t have any intention of getting back into football.

“But Jay got in touch pretty soon after and it was only the fact I knew him and he asked if I wanted to come down to Margate and see how it went that I got back involved.

“It was almost like he poured petrol on a simmering, burnt-out fire and so I owe Jay a lot for reigniting that desire. We’ve probably spoken every day since.

“We’ve got a good relationship, an upfront and honest relationship, and it makes it enjoyable.

“Jay and Parky are friends as well as work colleagues and to have trust in people you work with is the main thing.”

Tonbridge, 2-1 winners over Truro on Saturday, need maximum points in their final five games to match last season’s tally of 70.

They finished ninth in Saunders’ first season in charge and the aim is to secure another top-10 finish.

They’re 13th going into the Good Friday trip to fourth-placed Hampton & Richmond, which is followed by Farnborough at home on Easter Monday.

“We want to finish as strongly as we can,” said Blackman.

“Top 10 would be pleasing but let’s wait and see.

“The second season at a club is always the toughest.

“We finished ninth last year but we felt as a management group the second season was going to be harder.

“The level of expectation rises, which is understandable, but it’s also a case of realising Rome wasn’t built in a day.

“What we’re trying to do is establish ourselves and build on what we did last year.

“If we finish around the same sort of area we can say it’s been a good season for us.

“There’s still room for improvement but we’ve not had to look over our shoulder which maybe the club have in previous years.

“In general, we’ve taken big strides, the club’s in a good place and we’ll continue to work hard and try to improve.

“Our ultimate ambition is to get as high as we can and work towards taking the club into the play-offs.

“That’s what we’re motivated to do but I think it’s been a good season. You can always do better, can’t you?”

Winger Sean Shields trained on Tuesday night after missing the win over Truro while Angels are awaiting news on on-loan Ebbsfleet striker Nathan Odokonyero after he suffered a reaction to a fitness test last weekend.

Defender Kodi Lyons-Foster is rated 50:50.