Kiteley: Take the chance (From Dorset Echo)

Kiteley: Take the chance

9:04am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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MANAGER Dave Kiteley believes the newly formed reserve side will provide a “great opportunity” for local talent.

Kiteley has teamed up with former player-manager Andy Mason and the duo will take charge of Weymouth Reserves in next season’s Dorset Premier League.

The Terras decided to reintroduce a second string in a bid to unearth hidden gems while at the same time bridging the gap between the Under-18s and the senior side.

Kiteley, who previously managed the reserves between 2001-2005, is excited at the prospect of grooming future first-team squad members.

He said: “With the situation the club is in financially the way forward is to try and unearth some good youngsters in the area.

“The club’s Under-18s had a good season last year and hopefully now one or two can bridge that gap between the first team. It’s up to myself and Andy Mason, who is a top coach, to develop them.

“This is a great opportunity for local players if they’ve got the right frame of mind.

“There’s also the lure of playing at the Wessex Stadium every other week and if they work hard then they could get the opportunity of going into the first team.

“We’re very much starting from scratch though as we were only accepted into the Dorset Premier League 12 days ago, so we’re some six weeks behind everybody else in terms of preparations.

“It’s going to be difficult but the training sessions so far have been excellent and the work rate’s been good.”

Kiteley’s last managerial post was at Portland United, where he helped the islanders to their first league title in eight years two seasons ago.

He stepped down as boss last October before taking up a coaching role at Wessex League outfit Christchurch.

This coming season Kiteley will come up against his former Blues employers and his old assistant at Grove Corner Brendan King, who is now in charge of Chickerell United.

The Weymouth Reserves’ chief added: “This is a completely different objective to when I was at Portland. Here it’s about bringing players through and if I can get two or three into the first team then I’ll have done my job.

“Every game we play, I’ll be looking at what the players are learning. Matty Hale has got a certain way he wants to play and we’ve got to implement that.

“Teams like Chickerell will be aiming to win the league but for us it’s about making sure the players play the game properly so that if they do get the call up to the first team they will know what to do.”

Kiteley was more than happy to return to the Wessex Stadium but has urged fans to be patient as the club tries to overcome, and banish the memory of, its recent turmoil.

He said: “Ian Ridley and Dave Higson, who I both have a lot of respect for, were at the club when I was last here. They’ve got the club’s best interests at heart and, together with the management team, we all know what Weymouth is about and what the people want.

“It’s going to be a hard slog so I hope people will be patient.”