I will not go over my playing budget, insists Warrilow

Wednesday 26th May 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow continues his squad re-building with the capture of former Dover Athletic striker Frannie Collin, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 23-year-old, formerly of Chatham Town and Gillingham, has today penned a one-year contract with the club and joins two former team-mates in right-back Danny Walder, 20, and the versatile Lee Browning, 23, at Longmead Stadium.

“This latest addition completes my priority for a quality striker, but I am still looking for one or two more potential players,” Warrilow told www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk.

“If these come off I may need to trim the existing squad slightly to keep within the playing budget.

“I am particularly excited about this latest signing and stress that none of the four players have signed for purely financial reasons as they could have got much better deals elsewhere.”

Warrilow, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, expects Nick Davis and Sam Long to be leaving the club, despite his efforts to keep the pair.

Central defender Davis arrived last summer from Ramsgate, but his appearances in an Angels shirt were restricted due to an ankle tendon injury.

“I only spoke to Nick on Monday and Nick’s had one of those seasons, an absolute nightmare with his injury,” explained Warrilow.

“I’ve known Nick a long time. He’s had a couple of calls from clubs that have offered him first team football and similar packages and he’s contemplating going to them as well as us.

“I was upfront with him, the two boys (Sonny Miles and Liam Harwood) that went in (in central defence) done very well.

“If someone’s going to guarantee him a game of football, I think Nick should take it.

“I’ve just left it open to Nick and he’s just had one of those seasons that’s just not worked out. It’s nobody’s fault, it happens in football. Whatever Nick does I respect.”

Speaking about Long, Warrilow added: “I don’t know what Sam’s doing. I’ve spoken to him on numerous occasions but I don’t know. It just seems he’s talking to other clubs. I’ve spoken to one club the other day that have been speaking to him but I’ve still not heard from Sam. I’ve rang him and texted him but Sam knows where I am.

“I think this year was important for him. He enjoyed himself at our club and we offered him a good deal. I can appreciate he wants to get back into the full-time game but I wanted him to settle here.”

Warrilow is impressed with the character of one of his summer signings, 20-year-old Jake Beecroft, who has turned down full-time football at Blue Square Premier side Rushden & Diamonds to pursue a job in the city of London and to return to his home-town club.

“Jake basically used to play for Tonbridge many, many years ago and set off on his professional game,” said Warrilow.

“He came to a decision last year, he had another year at Rushden & Diamonds when he wanted to pursue a career outside football.

“He had a good opportunity up at London and he wanted to dip into non-league football and moving back to Tonbridge and I was made aware of it.

“I decided to meet him and have a chat and it was quite refreshing really because he wanted to come back and play for Tonbridge. He’s had offers from Conference and Conference South sides but I showed him around the ground to show how much it changed and what we was going to do and he was more than happy to sign and commit and try and push on for Tonbridge and get his career out of football off and running.

“He’s only 20-years-old so I’m looking forward to working with Jake.

“He was loaned out at St Albans last year, he played the last few games prior to the play-off’s. I think when you’re at a club - no disrespect to someone like Rushden & Diamonds - as a young lad I don’t think financially you’re earning fortunes and his opportunities were limited there.

“He was a very level headed, mature lad for 20. He’s obviously thought about it and he wants to have a go at it outside.

“With his CV and the clubs that were chasing him, he’s a very good footballer and the pressure out of the full-time game it will benefit his game.

“I think he could be one of those players that will probably keep having clubs coming back. He’s not desperate getting back into it - he would do - he’d love to. He’s looking at other things now, which is a pleasant thing to do, if he can get his career off and running up in London.”

“Someone could come back in and I will be pushing him and he could go back into the pro game and if someone comes in that’s attractive he can go back into the pro game.”

Warrilow added: “He’s obviously a very fit lad and I’m just looking forward to working with him and finding his best position for him and let him get some stability instead of playing here, there and everywhere.”

Warrilow admitted he was delighted to bring Browning in from Dover Athletic.

“I think most people know about Lee, he’s a really exciting player,” he said. “Again he plays off the front two and out side as well, in the middle and can go up top.

“He’s won titles with Dover and has played at a level high than we’re playing at so there’s no issues of can they cope etc.

“You talk to the Dover supporters and they’ve got nothing but praise for Lee and he was fundamental in their success down there.

“He had a few injuries but he played a lot of Conference South football but unfortunately injuries hindered his season a little but and as soon as he was made surplice I was straight into him.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk