JOHN Coventry is looking forward to locking horns with former East Thurrock United first team coach Kem Izzet tomorrow.

Izzet left his role at the Grayers Graphics Stadium to take over as boss of Brightlingsea Regent in October.

Rocks make the trip to the Taydal Stadium for an Isthmian Premier League clash this weekend and Coventry is relishing the opportunity to go head-to-head with Izzet.

“It will be good to see Kem because I haven’t had a chance to meet up with him since he left,” said East Thurrock chief Coventry.

“When he came here, he made it perfectly clear that he wanted to get a manager’s job and we respected that.

“I was trying to help him in that respect and put his eyes on any jobs that were coming up.

“We knew he would leave and go somewhere eventually and I am pleased for him.

“Kem left on good terms and it will be interesting being in the opposite dugout to him.”

While ninth-placed Rocks are looking to make a late push for the play-offs, Brightlingsea are in danger of the drop.

Brightlingsea currently find themselves in the relegation zone and suffered a harrowing 7-0 defeat to Bowers & Pitsea earlier this month.

Although Brightlingsea are at the wrong end of the table, Coventry insists the difficult start to life in the R’s hotseat will benefit Izzet in the long-term.

“Although Kem took over a club struggling, this might be one of those things where he looks back in 10 years and thinks it was a good decision going to Brightlingsea,” added Coventry.

“You learn a lot more when you are struggling and have to get through it.

“It’s not what he would want because he would have been hoping to enjoy success there, but this experience will help him in the long-term.

“When I started my tenure as a manager, it was a very difficult first season.

“But it stood me in good stead and I’m sure it will be the same for Kem.”

Coventry will be unable to call upon left-back Jordan Brown as the former Concord Rangers man’s three-match suspension gets underway.

Brown saw red in the narrow 1-0 defeat to Cray Wanderers last time out and Coventry concedes the dismissal was the last thing he needed.

“We could have done without the red card,” admitted Coventry.

“The squad is thin and it was our first sending off this season.”