This is a good time in my career to move into full-time football, admits Minshull

Tuesday 25th May 2010

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says Lee Minshull has made the right move to the right club as he turned professional today, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 24-year-old box-to-box midfielder has tonight penned a two-year contract with full-time Blue Square Premier giants AFC Wimbledon.

Unfortunately, the former Ramsgate player leaves Longmead Stadium on a Bosman free-transfer as his contract had expired - but Warrilow hopes AFC Wimbledon will play the Angels in a pre-season friendly at Longmead Stadium next summer.

“It’s an offer that he couldn’t turn down - it’s full-time football,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Obviously I’ve done my best to keep him at the club, but the season he had last year there was a lot of interest, which we knew about.

“He was talking about the club and what they’re doing and regarding their pre-season and where they’re going and you can tell the excitement in his voice - and he’s a full-time footballer now.

“He’s just finished his exams as a full-time surveyor so that’s come at the right time with that all being cleared.

“He’s full-time and you can’t knock it. It’s a fantastic club. Again, I’m disappointed but it’s a tick in the box for Tonbridge as we’re helping his career.

“When he came here people knew him a little bit. I told him when he signed I’ll push him on and make him a better player and it’s definitely happened and if it doesn’t work out he knows where we are.”

The Ryman Premier League club lost out on a much-needed cash windfall because of Minshull’s age - but Warrilow couldn’t stand in the players way of turning professional.

The Angels boss - who spent a year in the old Fourth Division with Torquay United during his playing career - wants to arrange some kind of compensation package for a player who scored 17 goals from midfield last term.

“I’ll be contacting them to see if we can get a pre-season in and get something out of it next year,” said Warrilow.

“It’s a nice move. If someone’s going to leave it’s never nice but when you hear where they’re going and what they’re doing, hearing the excitement in their voice, that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s just a shame we don’t get any rewards financially.”

AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown spoke about his delight in bringing Minshull to the club.

“Lee started off his non-League career at Ramsgate as a centre-back, and Dons fans may recall that he played against us in a 1-1 draw in December 2007,” Brown told www.afcwimbledon.co.uk.

“When he moved to Tonbridge Angels in 2009, Lee was converted into an attacking midfielder, and last year he blossomed.

“He was voted the Angels’ player of the year in a season in which they finished eighth in their league. Lee is a powerful, tough-tackling player who will add much-needed bite to our midfield as well as a good number of goals.

“This was an area in which we were weak last year, and Lee will also contribute mental and physical strength.”

AFC Wimbledon splashed out £25,000 to take Angels’ legendary striker John Main away from Longmead Stadium in November 2007.

Minshull is looking forward to guiding the Dons into the Football League within two years.

“I enjoyed my time at Tonbridge, but this is a good time in my career to move into full-time football,“ Minshull told www.afcwimbledon.co.uk.

“Like Terry and the club, I am ambitious and want to play in the Football League. I was very impressed with what I heard about this club’s plans, and I am very happy to have agreed terms.”

Meanwhile, Warrilow’s squad is beginning to take shape as he builds a squad capable of getting into the Ryman Premier League play-off’s at the end of next season.

Paul Booth, Tom Bryant, Marc Cumberbatch, Liam Harwood, John Heath, Scott Kinch, Sonny Miles, Meshach Nugent, Kirk Watts and Lee Worgan have all re-signed.

Warrilow has already signed a trio of new players on one-year contracts with Danny Walder, 20, and Lee Browning, 23, both joining the club following their release from Dover Athletic and Jake Beecroft, 20, re-joins the club after a stint as a full-time footballer at Rushden & Diamonds.

Anthony Storey and Jamie Cade, meanwhile, have already been snapped up by Tony Dolby at rivals Hastings United, whilst there is speculation that right-back Phil Starkey could re-join Ebbsfleet United in Blue Square South.

Warrilow, however, has kept the door open for Nick Davis and Sam Long, although he admits he may have lost the pair.

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

AFC Wimbledon's quotes courtesy of www.afcwimbledon.co.uk