Warrilow threatens to wield the axe

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has sent one player out on loan and has warned his players that they could follow him out of the exit if they don’t pick up in their next two games, writes Stephen McCartney.

Central defender, James Donovan, has been sent out on a month’s loan to Ryman League Division One North side, East Thurrock, as he's currently surplus to requirements.

Angels chairman, Nick Sullivan, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the club’s FA Carlsberg Trophy exit at the hands of Ramsgate last weekend, that Warrilow had to offload “one maybe two” players this week as the club had gone over budget bringing versatile player Scott Gooding back to the club after almost a year at Blue Square South side Fisher Athletic.

“All that’s happened at the moment is James Donovan has gone to East Thurrock on a month’s loan, that’s to get him games,” explained Warrilow tonight, whilst watching his reserves in action. There’s no use having him sitting on the bench.”

Warrilow, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, will assess his squad this week to decide which players, if any, need new challenges elsewhere.

Kirk Watts (winger), Michael Phillips (midfielder), Tim Olorunda (defence or midfield), Phil Starkey (full-back) and Luke Piscina (striker), all turned out for the reserves tonight.

“I’m under no pressure to make immediate responses (to offload players),” insisted Warrilow.

“There’s some areas that I’m looking at. The boys have another week to get it right. I’m actively looking around, there’s four or five lads that the season hasn’t started. You can get away with one or two.

“If someone of the calibre of Scott Gooding (is available), I will bring them to the club, but I won’t bring in anyone. It’s got to be an improvement.

“I don’t forget what some of these players have done here last year. It’s my job to get the best out of them. I want them to relax and enjoy their football and let them play.”

Tonbridge Angels, ninth in the Ryman Premier League table, just two points adrift of the play-off’s, welcome a Boreham Wood side that are just two places above them.

They crashed to a 3-0 defeat at AFC Hornchurch before going out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy to Ramsgate, losing 3-2.

“We’ve lost two games and we’ve got to address it,” said Warrilow.

“Both games have been very similar. We’ve started the first half the stronger of the sides, not taken the chances and made to rue the missed chances.

“I’ve told the boys, they’re not stupid, they’re very disappointed because we could have made life easier for ourselves.

“Every game is a big game, there’s no easy games in the league. If we win this one, we go to win the next one and the one after that etc.

“You have Dover at the top (ten points clear of us) who have set their stalls out earlier on. The other teams are much of a muchness, every team has bad results.

“All I care about is my team. I’ve got every belief in my boys. I wasn’t happy with the boys and we’ll be working on that all week and hopefully Saturday we’ll be more relaxed at home and get back to the Horsham form (when we won 4-0).”

There is plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the club’s fan-base at present, if reading the unofficial fans’ forum is anything to go by.

But Warrilow insists he will lead the club to it’s ultimate goal - clinching promotion via the play-off’s - at the end of this season.

“We’ve brought Scotty (Gooding) in who is a signing to strengthen an area, an area we needed to look at. We’ve got four boys fighting for two shirts,” he said.

“My objective is to get into the play-offs and out of this league, that’s my target. I’m going to get my head down, work with the boys and start picking our game up and get our supporters a lot more happier than what they are at the moment.”

Next Tuesday, the Angels travel to play Ashford Town (Middlesex). Warrilow was left stunned as his side were mugged at Short Lane earlier in the year but the Angels then went on their magnificent run that saw them climb up the table.

Tonbridge Angels v Boreham Wood
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 25^th October 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF