23rdnov03

Sunday 23rd November 2003

Money desperately needed at Tonbridge or management duo walk out

Tonbridge Angels chairman Paul Dainty warned this week that unless a sponsor can be found immediately then the club's management and playing budgets will have to be slashed - a move which will see former Fisher Athletic and Sittingbourne manager Alan Walker quit Longmead, reports Jez Durrant of Courier Newspapers.

The former Gillingham defender said he would like to complete what he has started at Longmead but was not prepared to put himself or his family through a cut-back situation similar to what he had previously experienced at his two former Dr Martens League clubs.

He told the Kent & Sussex Courier: "I have been through this before and I have my family and integrity to think about. This can cause a lot of heartache and I am not prepared to go down that road again.

"This is the best squad I have ever had and we are in the best position I have ever been in as a manager. I would love to keep that going an it would be a crying shame to throw it all away but if the money is cut then I will quit as will my assistant Lloyd Hume.

"I am not holding the club to ransom and this is not the fault of the board or the chairman, who is a fantastic guy and I have nothing but admiration for him. It is just one of those facts. There is nothing I want more then to carry on and I know the chairman is doing his damnedest to find another sponsor.

"The chairman and I will be looking at anyway we can to keep a certain level for the playing side and sustain our title challenge - there is nothing I want more.

Following early exits in money spinning FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions, and the loss of last season's sponsors ICI/Brewers Paints, this has put a huge financial strain on the club and this week Dainty said something had to give.

The chairman said: "We have had a board meeting and decided we cannot continue as we are with the current management and playing budgets. I have met with Alan Walker this week and we are desperately trying to resolve it.

"Although we have been successful we badly need a main sponsor. The board is 100% geared to getting promoted but we have to protect the future of the club as well.

"We are in need of a sponsor. We have had lots of small sponsorships from the fans and their support has been fantastic but the loss of Brewers has been a massive blow. We have only got one home league game this month and have had to pay nearly £14,000 to run the team, and we also only have one home game in January."

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23rdnov03