Warrilow hits-back at "mindless" Forum jibes - EXCLUSIVE

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Tommy Warrilow has invited fans’ to come face-to-face with him at the Meet the Manager event at the club next Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney

The former Horsham assistant has come under severe criticism on fans’ forums over the club’s position in the bottom five in the Ryman Premier League table and for selling Jon Main (AFC Wimbledon), Scott Gooding (Fisher Athletic) and releasing Hamid Barr (Lewes), although most Angels fans agreed with the decision to release Richard Harris.

Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the club’s deserved 4-0 win at basement boys Leyton on Tuesday night, Warrilow expressed his feelings on the cyber abuse that he’s been getting.

“I’ve heard through different people but that’s just the minority of just mindless people,” he said.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with what I’ve heard what’s on the forum - I’m only human!

“I mean, I love Tonbridge Football Club (and) I’m trying to get us playing the way that Tonbridge football supporters want us to play.

“Sometimes it goes right, sometimes it goes wrong and it was a bad day at the office against Wimbledon (in their recent 4-0 home defeat in the FA Trophy second round).

“I hold my hands up and said in my programme notes (for a postponed game) that a couple of things I’ve tried.

“John (Wilfort) has come in and had a bit of a stinker for me, which was unfortunate and obviously Richard (Harris) up front didn’t work like it did in the first game (against Wimbledon).

“But at the end of the day I’m a big boy, they can criticise, do what they want.”

Warrilow insists that he’s still searching for a new striker. He was, however, pleased that Carl Rook, who he paid money to Horsham for, got off the mark on Tuesday night with a brace.

“There’s still a few more pieces to put into the jigsaw,” said Warrilow.

“This week I lost out on a forward. I am looking to bring people in and they’ve just have to bear with us - we’re not a poor side.”

Despite money in the bank through the sales of Main and Gooding, Warrilow explained why he released Barr and Harris.

“Hamid and Richard Harris were both financial and both were in and out of the team,” he said.

“It didn’t warrant the sort of money they were getting. I had to address the budget and they were the two big hitters at the club.

“So when I looked at it and looked at the depth we had in the squad, Hamid’s 30-year-old, I’m not going to slaughter Hamid, he’s been probably one of the better players to put a Tonbridge shirt on.

“But since I’ve been here he’s done ok, he’s done no worse than no-one else but it didn’t warrant the money he was getting.

“I’m not doubting his ability but for me it was in spasms and perhaps it might suit him playing higher as you get more time on the ball.”

Harris, meanwhile, has born the brunt of fans’ criticism, having failed miserably to impress as a striker than playing in his true defensive role.

“Richard was just unfortunate, he was up front at the back,” said Warrilow.

“I brought a couple of players’ in. John Beales is different gear at the back and Donners (James Donovan) done very well.

“He’s not been no worse than anyone else and I can only go on what I’ve seen when I first came to the club. I was told to get rid of this one and that one.

“Some of the lads’ have come in and playing some of the best football, they’re saying they’re enjoying it.

“You just got to have my own mind. I make mistakes and it’s my decision and Hamid and Richard was my choice. We had to cut the budget and they were my two I choose to do it with.”

Warrilow is currently in the process of bringing fresh blood to the club.

“Obviously we’re still looking out for a forward and I said from day one, I’m not going to dive in and settle for anyone for the sake of keeping a dozen people on the forum happy,” he said.

“I’ve been through eight or nine targets. It’s not happened through one reason or another and there’s a few more now we’re continuing to look at so fresh ones have come up so we’re investigating them now.

“The one thing I do sell (to targets is that) we want to be a footballing team; we’ve had a good Trophy run.

“Obviously a couple of players have gone and we’re looking to re-build. It’s a club that’s going forward.”

Warrilow wants as many fans’ - and forum moaners - to attend the Meet the Manager event at the Longmead Lounge at the Betterview Longmead Stadium next Wednesday.

He said: “The club said when we first came here they were going to do it. To be honest I said if there’s any unrest or whatever, the best thing to do is get it on as soon as possible.

“I haven’t got any qualms in answering questions and I’d be upfront.

“I’d go there and answer everything honestly. What they’d like and what they hear is another thing but I’d be upfront and honest like I have been with everyone.”

The Angels boss is relishing their trip to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, adding: “We’ve got to learn from the other Saturday. There’s no reason why we can’t go there and get a result.”

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

AFC Wimbledon v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 26^th January 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Kingsmeadow, 422A Kingston Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 3PB