Marcel Nimani is in it for the long haul at Whitstable.

The Oystermen have had a difficult first half to their opening campaign back in the Southern Counties East Premier Division after last season’s relegation.

It’s certainly not been plain sailing for manager Nimani since he replaced Richard Styles in October, but they’re now sixth - albeit having played more fixtures than those around them.

For Nimani, though, it’s a two-year project.

He said: “If we were to look at it objectively speaking for this year, perhaps, we’re not in the healthiest of positions.

“But we also recognise we still have to play a lot of teams around us and, for us, it continues to be a two-year project.

“We are looking to build the culture and the culture includes the identity of play. We’re also looking to build the culture in terms of the resilience and the mentality side of the changing room.

“I feel that, on those two terms, the mentality of the changing room and the identity of play, they have been established very well.

“If we fall short this year, we’ll take this momentum into next year. There’s positives all round.

“We’re growing and we’re ready for the two-year project.”

Whitstable started 2023 on Monday with a goalless draw at Punjab.

“It was a tough game,” Nimani reflected.

“We were challenged, first of all, by the opposition. If you look at their last six games before Monday, they’d won five of those so they’re a strong team on the rise.

“We were also challenged by the conditions of the pitch. Obviously everyone knows that we like to play football.

“But the conditions of the pitch were quite challenging, particularly in the first half because the Punjab pitch has got a dip so shooting up the hill on a muddy pitch, first half, was quite difficult.

“We broke the game down into each half, tactically. We wanted to end the first half as a draw and just to get them tired - and we did that. We went in after the first half in a healthy place.

“Second half, we played the better football, shooting down the slope. Obviously we’re a very fit side and they pressed us well in the first half, but they did tire.

"It was just a shame we couldn’t nick it.”

Despite failing to beat their in-form hosts, Whitstable didn’t leave empty-handed.

“I’m so pleased with the cohesion and the mentality that we already are establishing, and we are continuing to grow in the changing room,” Nimani said.

“When we first took over, there was quite a disjointed mentality and a disjointed changing room. Previously, we would have lost that game.

“So the grit that we have created in the changing room is very pleasing.”

They finished with 10 men, though, after midfielder Victor Aiyelabola was dismissed for something he said to the referee.

Nimani noted: “Some of our players are still young and they still need to channel their frustration.

“The referee wasn’t very consistent. But I feel that some of our younger players - this time Victor - channel the disappointment of decisions in the wrong way.”

There’s only two points between the Oystermen and their visitors this Saturday, with eighth-placed Glebe having two matches in hand. That encounter comes before Whitstable host Bearsted on Tuesday in the Challenge Cup Third Round.

Nimani said: “There’s a lot of teams in and around us who, like ourselves, I imagine are looking at it as a two-year project - Glebe being one of them.

“A lot of teams that fall short this year will have a similar mindset to us. They’re looking to build momentum.

“They’re a young side, a good, technical side, and I’m sure they’ll come to our ground, look at our conditions and want to play football.”

There will be another loan signing in Whitstable’s squad in time for the game in wideman Jefferson Aibangbee, who joins from Nimani’s former club Sheppey.

He said: “Thank you to Sheppey United - Matt Smith and Gary Seamark - for allowing us to loan Jefferson.

“Jefferson is a player I know well from my time working with him. Obviously I know the club very well, so we thank the club for putting their trust in us.

“We’re looking forward to working with Jefferson.”

Aiyelabola's suspension will not kick in until after the Glebe game.