Whitstable Town FC

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager said of the signing: “After his departure from Maidstone United I am very pleased to confirm the signing of Jimmy Strouts. After a few discussions over the past week I was over the moon when Jimmy made the decision to join us at The Belmont and put pen to paper before the game against Greenwich Borough on Saturday. The signing of Jimmy is a big boost for everyone at the club and after the recent signing of Tommy Martin from Erith and Belvedere shows how ambitious we are as a club.
I’m always looking to improve the squad if I can and adding Jimmy to our strong squad is I believe be the missing piece of the jigsaw for us. The experience and professionalism that Jimmy will bring with him to this young side will I’m sure prove vital in our quest to gain promotion and bring some silverware to The Belmont.

Last season Jimmy captained Maidstone United to the league and cup double, so he knows what it takes to be a winner and I feel sure that his experience from playing at the highest level in non-league football and being successful will help the youngsters and others who haven’t enjoyed much success in their careers handle and overcome the difficult times that lay ahead.

The big plus point for me in signing Jimmy was the fact that even at 35 he still has ambition and desire to be successful and it is a massive boost for the club that he feels he can achieve this at the Belmont, and the fact that wages have never come into the equation only goes to show that his football is more important because one thing this club hasn’t got is money but what it has got, on and off the pitch, is professionalism and the club knows how to look after players which is why it is easy to sell this club to any player wanting to join.

I’ve always believed that the best time to strengthen the squad is when you’re doing well because I wouldn’t be doing my job as a manager if I started to take my foot off and started to rest on my laurels just because we’re on a good run. If I ever feel that there is a player out there who would improve the team I would do my best to get him.

I wish Jimmy and Tommy Martin all the very best for the future and hope they enjoy plying their trades here at Whitstable Town."

WTFC chairman Tony Rouse said: “It’s been said  the signing of Jimmy Strouts is the missing piece in the jigsaw, I see it a bit different; I see Jimmy as the last brick in the foundation which Marc and the club are building for the future. We already have quality players at Whitstable, Jimmy will add some much need experience needed at times during a game when a player is needed to take control and settle the lads down.”

Rouse added: “I met Jimmy for the first time on Saturday morning, but Marc and I have been quietly working at bringing Jimmy to Whitstable ever since we heard he’d parted company with Maidstone. As soon as Marc said he wanted to sign him, we wasted no time it setting up a meeting When we spoke to Jimmy he made no secret of the fact he thought he would finish his career at Maidstone; equally he is excited that Whitstable will more than likely be his last club. He is ia winner and determined to end this season on a high, and then we shall all sit down a talk about the future. I am pleased that Marc has conducted the addition of such a good player in such a professional manner, with other clubs chasing him it’s a credit to him and to the club that Jimmy will soon be wearing Town’s Red & White” said a clearly delighted Rouse: