Stop talking about my budget, says Warrilow

WITH the important Christmas campaign so very nearly upon us, Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow says his side face some big games between now and the end of the year, writes Mike Green


Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side’s midweek Championship Manager league Cup win over Chatham Town, Warrilow said: "Every game is important from here on in - if we beat Wealdstone, Harrow Borough next Tuesday becomes important and so on - this league is so tight that almost every single game is a must win.  It'll go all the way through - its ridiculous. 

“Last year was tight enough but this year - I got up on Sunday morning after we'd lost to Billericay, and we've taken one point out of nine and we're still "only" three points off the Play Off places - its just ridiculous, and I've never used the phrase "we've got away with it", I look at it as we haven't capitalised on it, and I've looked the other way. 

“I'm not happy with it but these things happen in football - I've had good times since I've been here and its a bit rough at the moment.  I'm big enough to get on with it and I will."
 
The Angels boss then turned his attention to neighbours Dartford and their remarkable start to the season which has seen them emulate Dover Athletic and charge clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League. 

"Dartford are so well placed because they've got a bigger squad and their set up for higher football especially when they attract over 1,000 every week," the Angels boss conceded, "but we've got a great squad here but it seems that when I get one back and loose another. 

“I get Scott Gooding back hopefully for weekend, and then we lose Marc Cumberbatch Tuesday night; Boothy (Paul Booth) is suspended, and then he'll come back in and Rooky (Carl Rook) will be banned and we know that we're going to get injuries and suspensions and that is the difference. 

“And I'm sorry its not an excuse its a fact of life - at this level we're not going to have the same set of boys week in week out whereas Dartford have got that luxury. 

“When we played them they had three lads who would walk into any other Ryman Premier team not even changed, and that's the difference!" 

Not that Warrilow was in any way detrimental to the job that Tony Burman and his staff have done at Princes Park.  "And that's not dismissing what they've done - that's simply the way it’s got to be done - good luck to them as I’m not one of those blokes who want them to fail.  I hope that they do go on and on like Dover did last year and I just want to try and see if we can get up there."
 
The Angles boss then continued with a warning for his won fans  "But even if our supporters want to hear it or not, they've got to accept that we're not as big as Dartford have now become -  we've done well and we're doing well here, but we've got to progress at a rate that's not going to kill the club. 

“The thing that's eating away at me at the moment is that everyone's talking about budgets and the supporters have not got a clue what the budget is here.  Every time we lose to someone its "our budgets four times this" and that's rubbish - I'm sorry, have your opinion but don't talk about things that you don't know anything about!"
 
After losing the Play Semi Final last season Warrilow admitted that he and his back room staff had given the players a firm message. 

"When we came off against Carshalton, I told the players to remember the feeling so that if it does happen again," he said. 

"They'll know how much losing hurt - you don't want that again.  Our season finished bang gone on a Tuesday night - no second chances - we should want it more; the incentive is definitely there.  We've just got to get some belief back, a little bit more confidence and a desire to want to achieve it as at the moment we're making it very hard for ourselves."
 
"If I'm honest I'm just hoping that we have one of those seasons when no one does take any notice of us until it’s almost too late!  We get a gallop on and come up on the rails, almost the same as when we first came here. 

“It’s achievable and we are looking to freshen a couple of things up but not a massive overhaul. 

“It’s just down to us to get things right - it down to myself to get things right.  I think that it’s just one of those seasons where anyone who puts a four or five game run together will get up and be in contention for the Play Offs.  That could happen in March; it could now; it could happen in February!  But I'm not going to panic.

“To be fair the commitment to play for Tonbridge is here as those that stayed in the summer all took cuts to stay, but that doesn't stop us getting annoyed that we're not up there with everyone. 

“It’s our own fault and we've got to get on with it.  there's no point moping about it, and that's why I'm hoping that Tuesday's win over Chatham  will rejuvenate our season again!"
 
With regards to the make up of Saturday's team. the never ending revolving door seems to be gaining pace. 

Warrilow added: "I'm hopeful that Scott Gooding will be involved on Saturday.  He's only had one game in three months, so to get him back will be a huge plus for us.  Boothy's still out suspended, and I think that we've lost Marc Cumberbatch with his groin after Tuesday, but if Scott's back - again you see, I get one back and lose another!"

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Tonbridge Angels  v  Wealdstone
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 12^th December 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF