Osborne goes with his head held high - Burman

Thursday 25th June 2009

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins has today made his third summer signing - by enticing long-serving Dartford defender Tommy Osborne to switch Kent clubs, writes Stephen McCartney.

Jenkins, preparing the club for their inaugural Ryman Premier League campaign, has snapped up the versatile 29-year-old, who has played almost 300 appearances for the Darts during a six-year stay.

The Wands have also confirmed today that Aaron Day, Scott Kinch, Lewis Wood, Mark Willy, Dean Standen, Colin Luckett and Steve Aris have re-signed for the club, having helped the Hayes Lane based side to clinch promotion via the Ryman League Division One South play-off lottery at the end of last season.

Osborne is the third summer signing, following midfielders Rob Quinn and Tommy Tyne, who have signed from Welling United and Tonbridge Angels respectively.

“It is also hoped that further signings will be made by the weekend,” added Cray Wanderers spokesman Martin Hodson.

Dartford boss Tony Burman, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening, paid tribute to Osborne, who was a true professional during his time at the club.

“He’s been absolutely superb since he’s been with us,” he said. “It’s been a difficult decision but you have to try and move on.

“I was honest with Tommy and he was honest with me with what he wanted to do. We said the best was maybe for him to listen to other clubs, and he’s signed for Cray, which is obviously a good move for him.”

Burman advises Jenkins the best position to play his latest acquisition.

“He can play anywhere across the back four but he’s best position is playing sweeper in a three,” he said.

“I’m not going to be playing that way so that’s one of the things we had to talk about, which is what we did.

“He’s been absolutely brilliant for us and I wish there were more people like him with the attitude that he shows.

“When he gets into the side he does well and he done excellent last year. I know Cody McDonald scored a lot of goals but the reason why we played ever so well was because Tommy was playing that well at the back in his best position.

“I feel myself and Tommy have done things in the right way and unfortunately he’s chosen to move on to Cray. The option was there for him to stay but he’s chosen to move on. It’s his choice but he goes with his head held high and he’s been absolutely fantastic for us.”

Dartford report back to pre-season training at Princes Park next Thursday, and Burman revealed that up to twenty players will be put through their paces ahead of their opening match against Coca-Cola League One side Norwich City on Saturday, 11th July.

“I didn’t want to play Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday this year, we’ve just kept to Saturday and Tuesday and training on Thursdays, said Burman.

“We’ve got some big games and we’re looking forward to getting back to pre-season and getting our fitness, but the fitness is the main thing for pre-season.

“We should have between 16-20 (players) there, some of the players will be on holiday because of work commitments, but the majority of the squad will be back next Thursday.

“We’re not looking at too many trialists this year, we’re promoting a couple of the lads from the under 21s and the academy to train with us (including Carl Dent and Hussein Isa).”

Hard-luck story Danny Barber, who suffered a sickening injury inside the opening minute of his Dartford debut at Tooting & Mitcham United last October,and former Tonbridge Angels central defender John Beales, have been given the opportunity to battle back from their cruciate ligament injuries at the club this summer.

Beales hasn’t played since Tuesday, 8th April 2008, when he was stretched off the pitch following a challenge by Hendon’s Marc Leach, during a game that the Angels won 4-0.

Speaking about Barber, Burman said: “He was injured in the first 30 seconds of his debut against Tooting, he’s coming back to do a pre-season. He’s been keeping himself fit.

“Also, John Beales is probably be coming back to do pre-season, but the pair of them have to overcome a major barrier, especially with the injuries that they had.”

Burman hasn’t ruled out the pair signing on the dotted line - if they win their personal battles to regain match fitness.

“John Beales has been invited back for pre-season training, where people have been looking after him, so hopefully he should be there next Thursday as well,” said the manager.

“He’s been training for the last six months with us. He’s been up at the ground, we’ve offered him a facility, he lives local to us and our physios have been trying to get him back fit.

“The same as Danny Barber, whose working to get back. Cruciate ligament is a serious injury and although they’re fit, they’ve got to overcome a barrier and I’m more than happy for the pair of them to do pre-season.

“If they over come that barrier than I may have even more difficult decisions to make (by signing them), come the start of the season.”

Sadly, despite our efforts, we were unable to get any reaction from the Cray Wanderers’ management team.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk