Lloyd Blackman admits the opportunity to get back into football as Margate assistant manager came quicker than he expected.

Blackman is a familiar face at Hartsdown Park and returned to the club last month - less than four weeks after quitting as Whitstable manager.

He was team-mates with Margate boss Jay Saunders at Maidstone United and says the chance to link up with him again was too good to turn down.

He said: “I love it, it’s fantastic. I didn’t expect to get back in so quickly, to be honest.

“I just got a phone call from Jay and Jay’s CV is there for all to see. It was something I didn’t expect but, since I’ve come in, the supporters have been great, and the players want to learn and are prepared to work hard.

“Hopefully I can add something to the party and bring something new to the table to help the players and the club.

“That’s my role and it’s one I’m currently really enjoying.”

Ex-striker Blackman, now 38, is a former Gate skipper.

“There are some supporters that I can remember from when I was playing here,” he added.

“It’s a great club. I’m just committed to my role, doing everything I can to help Jay and the players.

“I’m a bit more out of the spotlight so to speak, and just trying to help the club as best I can.”

Margate are steadily climbing the Isthmian Premier table, sitting just outside the play-offs in seventh, but suffered a setback on Saturday when they were knocked out of the FA Trophy, 3-2 at Needham Market.

After being 2-0 down at half-time, goals from Vance Bola and Ben Greenhalgh got them level before Needham frontman Hans Mpongo netted late on.

Blackman conceded: “We were not good enough.

"We had a good chat with everyone at half-time but we probably left ourselves too much to do.

“We cannot put in a performance like we did in the first half, we made it hard for ourselves.

“When we made it 2-2, I thought we were the ones in the ascendancy but we left ourselves susceptible at the end and they scored.

“It was disappointing but there were positives to take from the second half.”

Margate host Bognor Regis in the league this Saturday and Blackman said: “We are looking for a reaction this weekend.

“There are parts of our game that we have done well - that’s something we will continue to work on.

“We have got a good bunch of lads but we all know there’s bits we need to work on.”

Among Margate’s ranks is midfielder Sam Blackman - no relation to Lloyd - which is something which has caused some confusion.

Lloyd said: “We both have the nickname ‘Blacky’ so it’s a bit confusing when someone shouts ‘Blacky’ out because we are both spinning our heads and looking around!

“I had a few texts when Blacky scored recently, with people thinking I had come out of retirement.

“It’s just a pure coincidence that we have the same surname.”

Margate hope striker Daniel Thompson (ankle), who didn’t play at Needham Market, will be fit to return against Bognor.

Saunders, meanwhile, says he is expecting to sign two new players this week.

The club are also looking for a physio.

Email secretary@margate-fc.com for more details.

Read more: All the latest sports news from Kent