9thjune05

Wakeling: "definitely not ruling promotion out"

GEORGE WAKELING, the joint-manager of newly promoted Ryman Premier League side Bromley, hasn't ruled out an assault on promotion into the Nationwide Conference South, writes Stephen McCartney.

Wakeling, who returned to Hayes Lane following the departure of Stuart McIntyre last December,
admitted he was "over the moon" in getting his beloved Bromley out of the Ryman first division at the first time of asking, when they comfortably defeated Horsham 3-1 in the Ryman League division one play-off final last month.

And although he has kept his transfer targets close to his chest in the close season he insists his current squad are happy to remain at the club to mount a possible serious assault on the Ryman Premier League.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk he said: "I've just spent the last week with Billy Smith (other manager)  talking to my own players and we want to sign them all on.

"The squad is in good shape and if we can sign a couple more that will be a bonus.

"We've got good feedback and we are pleased with the response we got back.

"If we put anyone on contract it will be the younger ones.  The older ones are too clever to mess around with contracts - we shook their hands and that's good enough."

Wakeling - in his second spell in charge at Hayes Lane - admitted he was "quietly confident" about their prospects in the higher division.

And with ground improvements to their ground underway - the club are spending thousands of pounds of grant money from the Football Foundation - improving the playing surface, which is also used by their Ryman League Division One tenants, Cray Wanderers - a new function room and boardroom are also being built at the back of the stand, replacing two temporary buildings - there is an air of expectancy at the club.

"Our intentions are to push on from here," Wakeling said.  "We are quietly confident, we haven't got no fears about it.

"We know there are some big clubs spending a healthy wage bill to get into the Conference South.

"We will get on with what we've got - we are happy with it so lets see what it brings."

Wakeling admits he is "definitely not ruling promotion out" but added: "I am not looking for promotion - I hope it happens.

"At the end of the day it's a season where we test the water but we've got a few players who can shock a few teams and be up there at the death."