Scott Porter will step aside from his position as Whitstable Town manager to become the club's new director of football next season.

The decision will see Lloyd Blackman arrive to take charge of the first team to continue a series of changes at The Belmont.

It follows on from the announcement that Steve Clayton will succeed Town's longest-serving chairman Joe Brownett, who will subsequently become club president.

Porter said: "This is a decision that I have decided to make for the better of the club and myself, with the approval of the committee. I was brought to the club just over three years ago, with the club certain of relegation from Ryman South with just eight games to go.

"Once relegation was confirmed, my job was to get the club back to where they belong, which I did with promotion to the Bostik South East, having finished the 2017-2018 season as runners up in the SCEFL league, along with winning the SCEFL League Cup and the Kent Senior Trophy, becoming one of the most successful managers in the long history of Whitstable Town – something that I am very proud of.

"I approached Blacky (Lloyd Blackman), who I regard as a great friend in and out of football and someone I can work with and trust, as we did when he was with me at Hythe Town.

"After expressing my thoughts and having a lot of meetings together, we put it to Joe Brownett (chairman) and Ron Martin (treasurer), also Steve Clayton (chairman to be) and they supported the idea 100%.

"This is an exciting time for the club, with the new chairman Steve Clayton bringing in fresh ideas on and off the pitch to move the club forward, especially the youth policy, a new reserve team and the existing academy, something Blacky is keen to support.

"I’m looking forward to working with the chairman and his team, along with Blacky and his staff. I would just like to thank Joe Brownett and Ron Martin for supporting me and the club during my reign as manager, as it wouldn’t have been a success without those two, also the players past and present under my reign, my backroom staff, who will be staying on with Blacky, and most importantly the fans who have been exceptional week in week out since I’ve been here.”

Blackman's staff will be joined by former professional footballer and Northern Ireland international Paul Murray, who enjoyed stints with Dover and Ebbsfleet and has since become a UEFA A licensed coach.

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