New Margate coach Tyrone Sterling will fit perfectly into the club’s management team, according to player-boss Ben Greenhalgh.

Sterling has linked up with Gate’s coaching set-up for the new Isthmian South East season after he retired last term.

A respected figure at Hartsdown Park, Sterling enjoyed a distinguished playing career, which included spells at Margate, Cray Wanderers, Dover and Bromley, as well as playing internationally for Grenada.

But the 37-year-old will now move into the dugout where he will support Gate No.2 Adam Flanagan, fellow coach Elliot Leveson and goalkeeping coach Owen Kallmeier.

Greenhalgh said: “It’s a brilliant fit.

"Elliot does a lot of homework for us, which is massively helpful. As for T, with his defensive skill-set, we can massively use that.

“He has always been a coach. He runs a coaching company [called Dynamic Coaching, based in Sidcup].

“We’re all trying to be as professional as possible. It’s quite easy to just go through the motions - and that can still work - but T already has come up with some brilliant ideas.

“The most important thing is he’s going to be massively respected because of the career he has had.”

Sterling’s new coaching position was announced by Greenhalgh at last month’s fans’ forum.

“Everything went really well,” said Greenhalgh. “We got a lot of feedback from fans and some brilliant comments, and that’s the kind of relationship we want.

“I think they’re noticing we really want to have that connection. I said to T - because he was doing his first session as a coach at the time - that he should have been in the room for that!

"The room just erupted [when it was announced Sterling was rejoining].

“I look at it two ways. First, you’re a brilliant person but, secondly, you’re at a brilliant club.

“I’m here for my fifth year now, which just shows what I think of the club and the fans.

"I want to give my all for them.”

Gate’s first warm-up match against Tonbridge will be at Hartsdown Park this Saturday before local band The Libertines - Gate club sponsors - turn out in Dreamland that night.

Greenhalgh said: “We’re playing a National League South side - one I spent two seasons with and where I know a lot of people.

"It’ll be their first friendly, as well, which will be exciting for them.”

Among those Margate fans could get a first glimpse of soon are summer signing Ben Wells and a striker the club hope to sign on loan, who has been training with them.

Greenhalgh said: “Ben Wells has shown a lot of quality in training.

“He has shown exactly what we want to get out of him. We have signed him because he has a different dynamic.

"We have got a striker that we’re looking to bring in, as well.

“They’ll offer something different.”

Some other trialists, as well as some youth-team stars, will be handed opportunities, as well.

“There’s a couple of trialists that will be involved,” confirmed Greenhalgh, also Dartford’s Academy boss.

“They have come out of clubs in the league above and are looking for more game-time.

“We’re seeing whether they will be a good fit for us, if we will be a good fit for them, but we know their levels. There will be some youngsters involved, as well.

“I’m a big believer in giving youth football a chance. Some of the better youngsters at the club, they’re not too young, but one of them is only 16, so we do need to be mindful.

"It’s a case of letting them express themselves.”