Warrilow hopes to have the funds to keep star striker Rook

Central defender, Nick Davis, 27, has penned a one-year contact following his arrival from relegated side Ramsgate - and much-travelled left-winger, Kirk Watts, 30, who left Longmead Stadium last October, has signed non-contracted terms having arrived from league rivals Tooting & Mitcham United.

Davis has previously played for then Kent League sides VCD Athletic and Maidstone United, before helping Fisher Athletic to clinch the Ryman Premier League title and then went on to Ramsgate, where he became a club favourite under Jim Ward, but he has decided to leave Southwood Stadium following the Thanet club’s relegation from the Ryman Premier League.

Watts, meanwhile, needs no introduction to Tonbridge supporters, as he has already made 31 appearances (18 as substitute) for the west Kent club, scoring two goals.

The slender winger, who has played for numerous Kent clubs, including Thamesmead Town, Bromley and Ashford Town, lost his place in the side last season to Scottish winger Fraser Logan, and went on to have short spells with Croydon Athletic, Bromley and Tooting & Mitcham United, but jumped at the chance of returning to play for Warrilow next season.

“I’ve known Nick for ten years now,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.  “He was a youngster down VCD, obviously he’s gone on to better things, he won this league with Fisher, he done the treble with Fisher at this level.

“He’s a good age, a goalscoring centre half, he chips in with his fair share of goals.  He’s got quick feet and I’m delighted to get him on board.”

Warrilow, whose budget for next season has been slashed, added, “With Ramsgate going down, Nick wanted to stay in the Ryman Premier level and obviously we’ve ticked that box.  

“I showed him around the club yesterday, sold the club (to him) and again, it’s not a financial reason he’s come, he’s come for a footballing reason, which is obviously what I want to hear at this present time.”

And Warrilow was pleased to welcome Watts back with open arms, following a telephone call to the winger during the week.

“Watsie only left last year because he wanted regular football,” explained Warrilow.  “I mean, we all know what Kirk can do, he’s a great left winger. 

“He was one of my first signings when I got here, obviously Fraser (Logan) picked his game up so there was always that competition going on, but I’m delighted to have him back.

“I phoned him up, he’s another boy that I’ve known for a long, long time, since he was a kid.  I’ve had a chat with him the other night and told him what has happened and I’m really pleased to have him back on board.”

That means Warrilow will have Lee Worgan (goalkeeper), Scott Gooding (defender), Nick Davis (defender), Lee Minshull (midfielder), Anthony Storey (midfielder), Kirk Watts (left winger), Steve Ferguson (right winger) and striker Paul Booth at the club for the start of the league season, which kick’s off on Saturday, 15th August.

Out of those eight players, only Watts, at present, is on non-contracted terms.

Tim and Ade Olorunda have re-signed for Hastings United and Simon Glover has also departed, following the news of budget cuts in the wake of the shock resignations of Nick Sullivan (chairman) and vice-chairman Garry Pass earlier in the month.

Jamie Cade, Dwain Clarke, Lewis Hamilton, Phil Starkey, Tommy Tyne and John Westcott are all expected to sign for other clubs.

“I’ll be surprised if they come back,” admitted Warrilow.  “I’m still waiting to hear from a couple of them but I think the majority of them will source clubs elsewhere, they’ll get offered better deals elsewhere.”

As of this morning, Warrilow confirmed that he has not received any offers for transfer listed striker Carl Rook or central defensive rock Leon Legge.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of clubs,” revealed Warrilow.  “I’ve not officially put Leon Legge on the transfer list, that’s something that came out a little bit wrong at the meeting.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of League clubs about Leon and if we can sort something out that’s beneficial for Leon and the club then obviously it’ll be a massive boast to push a player into the Football League.”

“Everyone’s on about his disciplinary record (having been sent off six times last season), it’s not like Leon goes around killing people, smashing people and fighting on the pitch, they’re silly bookings for pulling players back etc.

“There’s not a problem with the boys discipline, he’s a pleasure to manage and he’s learnt so much and come on in one year and that’s why I think he deserves, at 23, he deserves someone to have a go with the boy because he can go a long way in the game.”

But despite listening to offers for both players, which will go towards increasing next season’s budget, Warrilow insisted that he will do anything in his power - and inside his budget - to keep the influential pair at Longmead Stadium next season.

He said: “My targets are always going to be high, but I don’t want to go to the boys “just stay in the league,” I want to give them something realistic to go for.

“I will be aiming to finish as high as I can.  To improve on last year is a massive, massive ask.  Every year I’ve been involved in non-league football on the management side, we’ve improved each year and if we can continue that trend, we’ll be second or first.

“But being a realist, with what’s happened, we’ve just got to take stock and when pre-season starts we’ll be able to answer that question more.

“At the moment, with only eight players I can’t really answer that.  I’m not changing my methods, my way of thinking, attitude, everything.  It will be the same as last year, whether it’s five quid a week or three hundred thousand a week.

“If I can keep Carl Rook or Leon Legge, I’d love to.  The longer people dither making bids, people think they will get them for nothing, that’s completely the wrong way of thinking.

“The longer it goes on, if no-one’s made a sensible offer for them I will keep them both because hopefully by the season starts I will have the budget, even if I have to move people on who I’ve signed.”

Warrilow, whose squad return to pre-season training on 27th June, added, “If people think we’re letting Rookie and Leon go for nothing, just to get them off the wage bill, they’d be mistaken.”