Tonbridge Angels chair Sophie Purves says former Glebe and Lewes boss Craig Nelson is the perfect fit for club

TONBRIDGE ANGELS chair Sophie Purves has appointed former Glebe and Lewes boss Craig Nelson as the club’s new manager ahead of next season.

 

Nelson was in joint-charge of Chislehurst-based Glebe for less than a season, before Danny Oakins and Nelson were controversially axed with four league games remaining with the club sitting at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table at the time.

Deal Town went on to win the league title and Glebe lost at home to Erith Town in the play-off Semi-Finals, with former Tonbridge Angels striker, Michael Power and Peter Sweeney taking joint-charge for the remainder of last season, having to settle for a third-placed finish.

Nelson them moved to Isthmian League Premier Division side Lewes last summer, where he led the East Sussex side through a transitional period and has gained a reputation for overseeing exciting, attacking football whilst nurturing young talent.

“We are delighted Craig Nelson and his team will be joining Tonbridge Angels in the close season,” said Purves in a club statement.

“He’s an ambitious, talented manager with a determination to succeed.

“We went through an extensive interview process and felt Craig was the perfect fit for our club and our ethos.

“We’re excited about the team he will build for next season and the journey ahead.”

Nelson added: “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Tonbridge Angels and stepping into the National League South.

“This is a fantastic club with real ambition, great sense of community and a passionate fan base that I cannot wait to connect with.

“After an unforgettable journey with Lewes, I’m excited to start this new chapter and bring the same passion, intensity and belief in ensuring that the football we play represents the values of this proud club.

“Fans can expect a team that plays with identity, is structured, aggressive without the ball and expressive in possession.

“My focus will be building a competitive, hardworking, united group that the supporters can connect with and be proud of, whilst providing a platform and environment to support the development of our youth.

“I’m looking forward to working with the players, staff and everyone connected to the club as we move forward together.”

A club statement added: “We thank Lewes Football Club for their understanding and co-operation  and wish them the very best for the remainder of the season where Craig will remain at the helm.”

Lewes chair Trevor Wells said in a club statement: “Obviously, we are hugely disappointed to be losing Craig to Tonbridge Angels but I am sure that everyone at the club, our supporters and our owners will be thankful for the job he performed this season and wish him future success in his managerial career.

“When we recruited Craig, the plan was that he would initially recruit a team almost from scratch that would consolidate our position as members of the Isthmian Premier League and from that position of consolidation he could build the team to challenge for the top five in the future.

“Craig has more than exceeded his brief in his first season, which has, of course, brought him to the attention of clubs higher up the league pyramid.

“Whilst we are saddened that he won’t be taking the next step of the journey with us, he leaves the club in a stronger position than when he joined and provides a fantastic opportunity for his successor.”

Nelson will remain at The Dripping Pan for Lewes’ remaining four games of the season.  Lewes are presently in thirteenth-place in the table with 52 points (13 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats).

The Angels, meanwhile, are in thirteenth-place in the Vanarama National League South table with 56 points (15 wins, 11 draws and 16 defeats) and caretaker manager Scott Wagstaff has been put in charge until the end of the season, losing his first game in charge last weekend, losing 4-1 at home to Farnborough.

Meanwhile, former Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders and his management team of Lloyd Blackman and Tom Parkinson, take charge of Folkestone Invicta for the first time on Saturday, a home game against relegated bottom side Bowers & Pitsea.

Invicta, who are laying a 3G artificial pitch at Cheriton Road this summer, are in 12^th place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table, having picked up 52 points (15 wins, seven draws and 16 defeats).

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