We want to progress as quickly as possible, says Welling Town chairman Kevin Oakes

WELLING TOWN manager Richard Dimmock has signed players who will fulfil the club’s aims of progressing up the football pyramid.

The club have secured a one-year deal to play their home games at Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead next season and Dimmock has unveiled his squad for next season’s Andreas Carter Joma Kent County League Division Two West campaign.


Welling Town have re-signed
Jon Main, 36.
Photo: Julie Hoare

The Boots finished runners-up to Sydenham Sports in the Division Three West table last season and Dimmock has been busy enticing players to drop down the divisions to play for him next season.

Chairman Kevin Oakes said: “We want to progress as quickly as possible into the National League System.

“With a considerable number of Southern Counties East Football League Division One sides failing their ground grading and The FA directive that clubs not having this addressed by the end of March 2018 will be relegated, we want to place ourselves in the strongest possible position, on and off the field to progress in the event opportunities become available.”

Dimmock took charge of the club in December 2016 after spending three years managing Meridian VP in the tenth-tier of English football.

He fulfilled his main objective last season, winning promotion and Welling Town also won the NRG Gym Barry Bundock West Kent Challenge Shield after thrashing FC Elmstead Reserves 4-0 at Sevenoaks Town’s Greatness Park on 26 April 2017.

“First and foremost, it was a great end to the season by getting promotion and winning the Cup,” said Dimmock.

“All the boys are having a break now until 1 July, when that is our first day back but for myself, Mike Jones (assistant manager) and Kevin Oakes, the work has not stopped.

“We have been busy trying to get our targets in for the summer and we have done that so we are very happy with our work.”

Brima Daramy (Corinthian), Tom Fitzgerald (Cray Valley) and Jack Upton (Woking) have all agreed to sign for the club.

“I have been after Tom for four years,” said Dimmock.  “Tom is also coming in as player first team coach.

“So with Brima, Tom and Jack coming in, it will make us very strong for the new season ahead.”

Dimmock has retained the services of midfielder Dominic Elmes, who followed him from Meridian, and goalscoring legend Jon Main, 36.

“I spoke to Jon last night and he said ‘he is looking forward to pre-season’, and he also said he is staying with the club to see through this big project,” said Dimmock.

“We are also still working hard on a few more players to come in and strengthen our squad, maybe two or three.

“We are also groundsharing with Sporting Club Thamesmead so we do not have any problems with the ground. All the players and myself, Mike and Kev are all looking forward to playing down there.”

Dimmock revealed that left-back Mehmet Piro has been offered a trial at Sky Bet League Two side Crawley Town.

Dimmock has retained the services of Ashley Cameron, Rahhem Chentouf, Ricky Hepburn, Lamarl Hubbard, Damilola Oni, Teddy Prosser, Danny Russell, Chris Ware, Joel Weston.

Meanwhile, Andreas Carter Joma Kent County League Division One West side Halls Athletic are continuing their search for a new manager to replace Ross Copley, who has stood down after two seasons at the helm.

The club play on the 3G Community pitch at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium and to apply please email Billy Judd: billjudd92@gmail.com

Billy Judd, who wants to stay on as coach, said: “The club are looking for a new management team that have experience at this level or higher and potentially a manager with some player pulling power as well.

“The first team train on a Wednesday night at Princes Park and we play our home games there where they have fantastic facilities for our level of football.

“The previous manager Ross Copley did a fantastic job coming in two seasons ago and really helped stabilise the club and helped us gain our highest finish last season.

“Ross made it clear at the start of his tenure that he would only do the job for two seasons so the club are now looking for a management team with fresh ideas and help move the team to the next level and we believe that we have the foundations to do that.”