Former Maidstone midfielder Micky Phillips has big ambitions after taking his first manager’s job.

Phillips is the new man in charge at Southern Counties East club Larkfield & New Hythe.

Previously No.2 to Danny Lye, he’s taken the top job after his ex-Stones team-mate stepped down due to work and family commitments with the Larks fourth in the Premier Division.

He takes over an exciting time with the club looking for back-to-back promotions after winning the Division 1 play-offs last season and possibly just a couple of years away from moving to a new ground.

Phillips, 41, wants to build on Lye’s good work and keep the promotions coming.

“I want to get to the Isthmian Prem within three seasons,” he said. “That’s my target. I know the club are thinking the same sort of thing. They want to go as far as they possibly can.

“It’s our first season in the SCEFL Prem and we’re doing well.

“If we can show the consistency I think we’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

“I’m just going to give it my best shot, give it my all and hopefully we can make the play-offs and be successful again and continue on from all the hard work Lyesey did.”

Phillips had been part of Steve Watt’s coaching team at Hythe before linking up with Lye at Larkfield & New Hythe.

They won promotion in their first season, beating Staplehurst 1-0 in the play-off final, and hit the ground running in the Premier Division, as well as reaching the FA Cup first qualifying round.

With Lye increasingly busy at work and home, Phillips had taken charge of the team regularly this season.

He was the logical choice to take over when Lye stood down and marked his first official game as manager with a 4-1 home win over Bearsted on Tuesday last week.

“It’s strange not having Lyesey about but that’s football,” said Phillips who’s named captain Fraser Walker as his assistant manager.

“We’re still good friends and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“We’re in a good position, we’ve got an exciting little Kent Senior Trophy quarter-final at Snodland on Saturday, so that should be entertaining.

“It would be nice to get to the final and then be in the play-offs.

“It’s an exciting little project because they were a County League club only a few years ago.

“We’ve got a great bunch of lads there, the harmony and togetherness, which is half the battle to be successful, and we’ve got some exciting young players as well.

“With the plans for the new stadium, which will hopefully be built in the next couple of years, it’s great for the club.

“It’s a lovely little family club and it’s nice to be given my first opportunity in management.”

Maidstone fans know all about Phillips’ winning mentality from his time at the Gallagher Stadium under Jay Saunders.

He intends to take that into the dugout after succeeding Lye.

He said: “The more I took charge when Lyesey wasn’t around, the more confident I felt that I could actually do a job as a manager.

“Learning under Lyesey and Watty and Jay and all the other managers I’ve played under, you take a little bit from each one and then you put your own stamp on things.

“My philosophy is to win. I’m a winner. I hate losing. You know that from my playing days.

“I want hard work and intensity and I like the boys to be at the peak of their fitness.

“I’m quite strict with that because I think all the teams I’ve played for over the years, the successful teams have been the fittest teams.

“Having that togetherness and team spirit in the changing room, that’s a big thing as well, getting the right personnel in, the right balance of experience and youngsters.

“I’m excited to improve players individually and collectively as a team. It’s my job to do that.

“I miss playing but management is the next best thing.

“It’s like a hobby but also there is pressure and I think I thrive off the pressure. We shall see.”

Larkfield & New Hythe are hopeful of moving from their New Hythe Lane home to a new sports hub off Castle Way, Birling, on the site of the old Oast Park Golf Course.

That would tie in nicely with their on-field ambitions.

“The club are pretty confident with the way everything’s going,” said Phillips.

“They’re hoping to get to go-ahead by the end of the season and it’ll be a case of the developers going in.

“There’ll be a 3G pitch with the stadium and a 3G training pitch next to it, and then a driving range as well.

“It’s exciting times for the club and the supporters and the local community.”