I want an experienced backbone to my team, says Erith Town boss Tony Russell

ERITH TOWN boss Tony Russell has tonight unveiled his first three summer signings and revealed that a couple of players will be on trial at higher league clubs, writes Stephen McCartney.

Central midfielder Michael Phillips, striker Billy Shinners and central defender Nick Davis have all put pen to paper, having dropped down one league to sign from Maidstone United, Chatham Town and Thamesmead Town respectively.

“That was my first three signings I wanted,” said Russell. “I just wanted to bring the spine of the team in.

“I thought Last year, when we went top of the league, we just froze a little bit and when I sat down at the end of the season and looked at it, I just thought when push came to shove we just didn’t have that experience in the side. 

“We had a lot of youngsters in there and the one thing I wanted this summer is to have a good experienced backbone to the side.

“You aint going to get much experience than Nick Davis, who has played at a great standard of football.

Russell added: “Michael Phillips, still only 28, has been a pro at Gillingham and has played at good levels.

“I had to work really hard, really hard, to get them both to drop down to the Kent League as they haven’t played at that level to my knowledge.”

Russell believes former Sevenoaks Town striker Shinners will prove a hit in his second spell at the club, having been tempted to Ryman League Division One South side Chatham Town last season.

He said: “When he left before, I said to him ‘it was too early for him to go’. He phoned me in the summer, we had a chat and he wants to finish his education I think. He wants to score goals, he’s been in the gym all summer and he’s bulked up a lot.  He looked sharp in training, he looks really quick. 

“I think he’s going to be a handful next year and I’m actually excited that he’s going to play for us next year.

Russell, meanwhile, has confirmed that central defender, Dean Kearley, has been released and left-back Lawrence Collins and talented central midfielder Liam Burgess, 19, are on loan at Sittingbourne and Welling United respectively.

Russell has been in contact with Jamie Day, the player-manager at Blue Square Bet South neighbours Welling United, as he feels Burgess can play at a higher level.

He said: “I spoke to Jamie in the summer and I wanted Jamie to have a look at him.  As much as I want him there, the chairman wasn’t overly happy with me doing it, as much as I want the club to do well, player development is important to me so I phoned Jamie up. 

“He’s a good young player, he’s 19-years-old and he can do something really special.  I hope he does well.

“I asked Jamie to have a look at him now and make a decision or put him on his radar.

“He’s doing a pre-season with them and I hope he does well.  If not it’s already been agreed he comes back to us.”

Russell added:  “Dean Kearley has left the club.  He just struggled to get in towards the end of the season so he hasn’t come back.

“Lawrence Collins has gone down to Sittingbourne to have a go down there.”

When asked about future transfer activity, Russell said, “Hopefully in the next few days, I’m waiting now to bring a couple of more in.”

Russell, 32, meanwhile, urges the Kent League to make signing on forms available to member clubs at the same time as other league’s to enable managers to tie down their summer targets.

He said: “It’s just been a nightmare of a summer to be fair.  The league is an absolute joke!  There’s been no signing on forms, no-one could sign no-one, hence why probably everyone’s being cagey towards yourself – it’s just been a joke!

“You talk to players and you just can’t get a player to commit and even when they do you can’t sign them as you can’t get the forms (until after the Kent League Annual General Meeting).

“It’s been a bit of a joke really. Thank God now the forms are done so we can finally start signing people.”

Erith Town begin their six-match pre-season campaign with a trip to Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday 16^th July (3pm).  The south Londoners were defeated by Leatherhead in the Ryman League Division One South play-off final last season and the game will be played at Champion Hill Stadium.

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk