I want to finish the job I started, says Dolby

Chislehurst based Dolby, 34, explained to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight the reasons behind his decision to leave his playing role at Cray Wanderers to return to The Pilot Field for his second spell as the Arrows’ boss.

The former Tonbridge Angels player-manager originally took over the reigns at the east Sussex club in January 2008 but quit at the end of the season, despite maintaining the club’s Ryman Premier League status.

Dolby, who always wanted to return to football management, also revealed that he is going to name his management staff this week, but Mike Rutherford, his number two at Longmead Stadium, is unable to commit to the role for the time being.

Dolby, who replaces John Lambert and Wayne Farrier, answered an SOS call from Hastings United chairman Dave Walters yesterday and felt it was time to leave the Wands as he wasn’t playing as much as he’d liked as boss Ian Jenkins chose other players ahead of the former Millwall star.

“I haven’t been playing of late, Jenko has opted to play other people, which is fine, no problem with that,” said Dolby.

“If I was playing and we were up near the top of the league, which we are, and we had a great chance and I was fully involved, then I probably wouldn’t have considered it.

“But the fact is I’m not playing as much as maybe I would like in as much as to warrant staying when there was such a good opportunity to manage again.”

Dolby says he joins a club that does not have any debuts and that he is happy with the tools that he has got to work with.

“The budgets not bad,” he said. “There’s no great secret that the chairman runs a tight ship there. He refuses to let the club go into debt and budget’s accordingly.

“They’re a club that’s in the black and he’s very proud with that and so he should be. In this financial climate you can’t just go out and overspend and maintain it for long periods.

“We know where we are as a club and know what money we are working with and hopefully that will be enough to keep us going.”

Dolby is expected to name his staff at some point this week, although Rutherford will help in other areas.

“Mike’s not able to commit to me fully at the moment so he’s not my number two,” said Dolby. “He is going to help in other ways.

“There’s some other things going on that I’m looking into as far as assistants and coaches, nothings come to fruition yet, but I’m sure it will this week.

“I know a good percentage of the boys that are down there,” he added. “I know them well and know they’re capable players. There’s some new players from last time I was there and I have to go down and have a look and see what they’re like and see who I need to bring in.

“I haven’t been down there yet and train with the players, we’ll give it this week and analyse what I feel I need in the coming days.”

Dolby, who has moved to a new job in Sevenoaks, added he wants to finish off the job that he started thirteen months ago.

“I was only there from January until May so it’s not as it I’ve had a long stint there and I left on my own accord, so therefore there’s some unfinished business,” he said.

“The circumstances that led me to resign at the end of last season has changed and I don’t envisage any problems as to why I would need to leave again.

“I’m looking to move forward and pick up where I left off.

“One of the things was work, I’ve got a new job and located in Sevenoaks so I’m right on the A21, so that’s the large chunk of the journey that I don’t need to worry about.

“There were a few other things ironed out so I don’t see any problems.”

Dolby quits Hayes Lane with Cray Wanderers sitting in fifth place with 45 points from 27 games in the Ryman League Division One South table - five points adrift of leaders Kingstonian, who have three games in hand.

Hastings United, meanwhile, who play one division higher, are currently in sixteenth place with 31 points from 26 games - five points above the relegation zone.

And Dolby feels Jenkins will lead the Wands to the play-off’s, despite spluttering in recent weeks.

He said: “I’ve got the utmost respect for Jenko and Joe and wish them well and I’m sure they will get into, at least, the play-off’s this year.”

Visit Hastings United's website:  www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk