The hard work starts now, says Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says his promotion winning squad can deal with life in Blue Square Bet South, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Angels created history earlier in the month as they clinched promotion out of the Ryman Premier League with glorious play-off wins over Harrow Borough and Lowestoft Town to join champions Sutton United in Conference South for the very first time in the club’s history.

Chairman Steve Churcher and benefactor Garry Pass have taken their time to calculate projected income and expenditure for the year ahead and have given Warrilow a budget that he is happy with.

Warrilow has the following players on his books:

Goalkeeper:
Lee Worgan

Defenders:
Sonny Miles, Danny Walder

Midfielders:
Jake Beecroft, Lee Browning, Chris Henry, Scott Kinch, Tim Olorunda (re-signed from Hastings United) Lewis Taylor

Strikers:
Frannie Collin, Ade Olorunda

Warrilow confirmed that former Ramsgate and Dover Athletic winger, Sam Jones, has left the club to return to America, whilst injured central defenders Scott Gooding and John Beales have been off-loaded in a bid to regain their fitness.

Cuxton based Warrilow, 46, who started his career with Tonbridge Angels’ youth team, explained why he is keeping faith with his heroes.

“I was saying all along last year that I think the majority of these boys can make the step up,” he said.

“I wasn’t just saying it for the sake of it.  I proved it by keeping faith with the majority of them again.

“I’ve still got to speak to a few boys that aren’t on that list and they’ll be getting the same offers.

“I suppose new faces wise there will only be two perhaps three to come in and then we’ll see how we go and start and if we have to address it, we’ll address it.

“But I don’t think that these boys can’t handle the Conference South and they’ve earned the chance to prove it as well and I’m more than happy to back my faith in them.”

Warrilow only started to talk to players over the Bank Holiday weekend and his players should take credit for remaining patient instead of jumping ship.

Warrilow said: “I’ve got a feeling I might lose one but I could have lost a lot more than that, if the boys didn’t have faith in the club and enjoy themselves here.

“Speaking to them on Sunday and yesterday there were better and bigger offers for them from Conference South, the level below (Ryman Premier) and the level above at Conference (Premier).  I asked them to be patient and wait for me. 

“It was just one of these seasons last year where no one knew where we’d be.  It was tight all the way along until the end and the board had to go away and do their sums and get their budget right and I agree 100% with them.”

Former Tonbridge strikers, Paul Booth and Jon Main, who left the club for Farnborough and AFC Wimbledon, appear to be out of Warrilow’s price range.

He said: “Some of the players the fans wanted us to bring in and sign, we have to have a reality check as they are off our radar financially but I weren’t too concerned as I knew we couldn’t afford them but my main concern was try to keep the nucleus of the squad together.”

Warrilow is ruthless enough to make changes to his squad if things aren’t going too well, as was the case last September.

The Angels were rooted in eighteenth place in the Ryman Premier League table following a 4-0 home defeat to Cray Wanderers and Warrilow tweaked his squad and they responded by thrashing AFC Hornchuch 7-1 ten days later to kick-start their campaign and begin their climb up the table.

“My philosophy is I never panic. I get frustrated and annoyed but if it’s a total catastrophe then major surgery has got to be done,” said Warrilow.

“ Until we get there, I’d rather have a go than bring in another six fresh faces to give them time to gel.  I might as well see how my team gets on.  I did say on record last year I think these boys are capable of Conference South so we’ll soon find out.”

When asked about his budget, Warrilow replied, “The budget is what it is.  I’m like any other manager, I want more but the one thing at our club the budget can be sustained for 38-40 weeks.  Speaking to a few lads I’m trying to bring to the club some are still owed money by other clubs and that’s what I tell people when I want them to sign.  People get offered a fortune elsewhere, but its whether you get that the whole season.

“This year, it doesn’t take Einstein to work out, we can’t go trying to chase the top players the top teams are chasing because the club can’t sustain that.

“It’s the highest we’ve ever been and it’s our first toe in the water.  They’ve given me a budget, we’ve spoken about a lot of things, and once the season gets underway if I can add to it I will add to it – but a lot depends on the town now.”

The club’s potential is massive. A crowd of 1,124 flocked through the turnstiles for the play-off semi-final against Harrow Borough and a record breaking 2,411 witnessed the seven-goal thriller against Lowestoft Town for the final.

Warrilow added: “We need the turnstiles clicking, we need more people through the gate.  We need businesses and sponsors’ helping out.

“What we don’t want to do is throw away the hard work we did to get into Conference South.”

Warrilow’s Warriors report back for pre-season training on 2 July and their first friendly is at home to Brenford on 16 July.

The excitement is building and everyone can’t wait for the new season to get started.

“It’s been three weeks of celebrations.  That’s it now. Now the real work starts,” said Warrilow.

“It started on Sunday, I came back from holiday on Wednesday.  I had a meeting with Steve and Garry on Thursday and we had our presentation on Friday and I was meeting all the players on Sunday and Monday.

“I don’t live in Tonbridge. I knew it would have an impact but with the rugby team doing so well it’s nice the football team go hand and glove with them.

“Only next year will tell if the town gets behind us.  I want to progress and push on and I’ve moved on with Tonbridge.

“I’ve got enough faith in my lads as I wouldn’t ask them to pen a new deal (if I didn’t).  They’re going to come back and they will give it their all.  We won’t have the biggest of squads to start with but hopefully we can add to that.

“I’ve got eleven now so I’ve got to talk to some other lads.  It depends on how the financials whittle down.  I would have thought I’ll be starting with a 14-15 man squad and hope we don’t pick up injuries or suspensions.”

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