We haven’t achieved and ultimately it’s me that’s responsible, admits Tunbridge Wells boss Jason Bourne

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Jason Bourne says he is the man that will deliver for the club’s excellent fan-base.

The Wells are struggling at the wrong end of the Southern Counties East Football League table in the bottom two on 22 points from 25 games but ended a run of six straight defeats by being held to a 2-2 home draw by Erith & Belvedere yesterday.

Former Crystal Palace ace Ashley-Paul Robinson, 26, opened the scoring for Erith & Belvedere inside three minutes from the penalty spot after left-back Alfie Hall tripped Romario Hart inside the box.

But striker Alwayne Jones scored his first two goals of the season for Tunbridge Wells, before John Wilfort’s side claimed a point with a header from substitute striker James Pinnock inside the last three minutes.

A crowd of 178 supporters flocked through the Culverden Stadium turnstiles to support a club that remain 10 points clear of Holmesdale, who occupy the sole relegation spot, although the Bromley based club have four games in hand but have won only two of their21 league games and are favourites to become the first team to be relegated out of the rebranded league.

“They’ve been cracking from the start,” Bourne said of the league’s most vocal of supporters.

“It’s tough because I want to deliver for them and I do believe that I will deliver for them.

“Between me and Staps (Mark Stapley) we put the hours in, no stones left unturned on a match day.

“This will be fine and I think the supporters appreciate that and they know that wholesale change and chopping managers in and out isn’t the way and the club have brought into that so I’m glad that they’ve shown the belief in me and certainly won’t be resting until I’ve done what I’ve set out to do.”

Tunbridge Wells’ performance yesterday suggested that they will not be suffering relegation at the end of the season.

“If we play like that and like we did against Beckenham (a 2-1 away defeat in our previous game) we’ll be absolutely fine,” said Bourne.

When asked about his targets for the rest of the season, Bourne replied: “It’s just improvements, small improvements, every week, just keep building until it is what we want.

“I said when I took the job consolidation was always the target. I feel we’re on track with that. 

“I would’ve liked another 10 points on the board, which is achievable.

“We haven’t achieved and ultimately it’s me that’s responsible. I put the players out there, I’m setting them up the way I am.

“I’ll have a long, hard look at myself every single game but I think we’re turning the corner.”

Lordswood host Tunbridge Wells next Saturday on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Fisher yesterday and are in fifth-place in the table.

“Lordswood is always a tricky place to go, they’re a good side, they’re set up well,” said Bourne.

“James (Collins) has done a good job there. We’ll have to be at our best. It’s quite a narrow pitch in there so I know from my playing days it’s hard and you’ve got to play a nice pressing game, play in right areas so we’ll get set-up for Lordswood and make sure we’re fully equipped and we’ll do our best to get three points and climb up the table.”

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website:  www.tunbridgewellsfc.com

Lordswood  v  Tunbridge Wells
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 13^th February 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Martyn Grove, North Dane Way, Walderslade, Kent ME5 8YE