We've got our fingers crossed for new stadium, says Cray Wanderers boss Tony Russell

CRAY WANDERERS manager Tony Russell says there is no pressure on him to get the club promoted this season.

The Wands are sitting at the top of the tree on Christmas Day, three points clear of AFC Sudbury at the top of the Ryman League Division One North table on 60 points from 27 games.

Cray Wanderers travel to Barnehurst to tackle their Kent rivals Phoenix Sports on Boxing Day.

“The Phoenix game is going to be a really good game, I’m really looking forward to it, it’s right on my doorstep,” said Barnehust resident Russell.

“It is walking distance from my house, I would say five minutes that’s if I’m slow, had a bit of Christmas pudding the day before, it’s probably four.

“It will be a really good crowd. The people at Phoenix are a really good crowd – I know them and they’ll be right up for it and I think they’ve done fantastically well this season in their first season.”

Steve O’Boyle’s side are in 12^th place in the table on 38 points from 27 games in their debut season in the Ryman League.

Cray Wanderers have upped their publicity concerning their proposed new stadium on the site of Flamingo Park.

Despite their table-topping league status, fans are failing to turn up at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground to support the team.

Russell said: “The club’s full throttle with the ground, so do they go out promoting games at Bromley’s ground? Probably not?

“At this present moment their focus is trying to get this ground and to get them home.

“All the initial feedback they’ve got from people the numbers will be good. This is why it’s so important this decision on February 18^th I think it is, that we get this ground because otherwise what’s the future?

“You’re going to keep asking (chairman) Gary Hillman to keep putting his hand in his pockets and pay rent here (at Bromley FC) with 100 people turning up?

“It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s a dying club. Eventually Gary will stop doing that.

“That’s why it’s so important, it’s a massive time for the club and everyone’s working hard and we’ve got fingers crossed.

“I know there’s a link on the website and people can register their interest and support it but we could do with as many people as we can to get us over that line.”

Russell, meanwhile, has been told by the club’s board that there’s no pressure to win promotion back into the Ryman Premier League after a two year absence.

He said: “It’s good to be the manager anyway. I feel this is a bit of me. I feel comfortable.

“The owners, Dave Francis came to the training ground and said to the boys ‘what you’ve done this year is unbelievable. Same wage bill as last year, everything’s on hold because we need to get this ground and what you’re doing, the football you’re playing.”

“He just thanked all the boys.  You don’t get that very often.

“He said,  ‘You’re under no pressure to go up. If we go up, we go up, if we don’t, we don’t but you just keep playing that football, it’s a pleasure to watch.’

“That really stuck out and that’s why losing to Sudbury really disappointed me.  You’ve got owners coming and saying nice things like that.”

Russell is keen to be the manager that leads the club out in their new surroundings.

He said: “We’re potentially building a £22m stadium, you should be chomping at the bit for this shirt.  I said it at training, if they get this ground I fully expect everyone will want to come, everyone’s going to want a piece of it.

“They’ve (my current squad) got the shirts, keep the shirts, don’t give them away. I’m a loyal person. I see some managers sign 40-50 players a season, I don’t even sign 10, but I want to be a part of it and I want them to be a part of it.”

For more details about Cray Wanderers’ new stadium plans visit: www.cray-wanderers.com where you can watch a video

Phoenix Sports  v  Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One North
Boxing Day, Saturday 26^th December 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Mayplace Road East, Barnehurst, Kent DA8 3BJ