Wells boss Robbins wants top six stability

MIKE ROBBINS has vowed to guide his Tunbridge Wells side towards the top six in the Kent League next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Robbins, who initially arrived at the west Kent club last summer to manage the reserves, took over the first team reigns last November when the club parted company with Martin Farnie.

But Robbins, whose previous club’s include Ashford Town, Hythe Town and Rye United, is delighted with the form shown by his side towards the end of last season as he guided the Wells to tenth place in the Kent League table.

Around thirty players reported back to pre-season training this morning in the school playing fields adjacent to Culverden Stadium.

Two Kent clubs at both ends of the spectrum, League Two outfit Gillingham and Kent League Greenwich Borough have already officially returned to pre-season training, whilst another Kent League side, Erith & Belvedere meet up every Tuesday evening to run.

And Robbins, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, explained why he’s brought his side back in June.

He said: “Well, we knew where we finished last season and we had a few targets we need to talk to and get things in and we just wanted to get things started and rolling and logistically get things in place.

“Today’s for invited personnel plus a few of the guys that needed to get a little bit of sharpness before the rest of the guys report next Saturday.

“We’ve got three quarters of what we wanted here today and there’s about ten guys who we’ve given special dispensation not to be here today so that’s why we’ve started nice and early, nice and fresh.

“To be honest, it’s a clean slate for everybody. I’ve had a chat with eight or nine of the reserves this morning who turned up today expecting to be the (training with the) reserves and I said it’s a club pre-season and they’ve got nothing but good points remembered.”

Robbins admitted that he’s pleased with the current players at his disposal and believes he doesn’t need to make wholesale changes.

“To be honest finding new players wasn’t my objective for this season,” he said.

“Last season the last sixteen games we literally used 14 players in the 11 starting positions. Those fourteen players are crucial to this season.

“As far as I’m concerned I can’t confirm all of them but the majority of these players are staying.”

Robbins’ main hopes rely on two players that have played at a higher level, defender Brad Sandeman, whose played League Football for the likes of Port Vale and Maidstone United and midfielder Barry Gardner, whose played most of his football in the Ryman League for clubs like Bromley, Cray Wanderers and Ashford Town.

“Barry Gardner is very crucial to our plans and he’s signed up,” revealed Robbins.

“Barry’s got a huge season in front of him now, if he gets it right. I want him to go back to the Ryman but with us.

“He’s playing at a level which people are catching up with him but at the same time he’s moving ahead of that level now. He’s looking sharp today and he’s vitally important to what we do.”

Sandeman will be the most experienced player in the Tunbridge Wells side next season.

And Robbins said: “I reduced the average age of the side. When I took over it was something like late 20’s, early 30s but now even with Brad in the side now the average age is still now around 20-22. That was very important.

“As you can see here today there is actually only one player over 30 reported today and that’s Brad, every other player is well under 22-23.”

But whilst local clubs Tonbridge Angels, who are expected to do well in the Ryman Premier League next season and Crowborough Athletic, who sealed promotion into the Ryman League after winning the Sussex County League, Robbins knows Tunbridge Wells have stood still in recent years.

But joining their two nearest neighbours in the Ryman League is the main objective but fans will have to be patient.

“I can tell you that I’m very ambitious, I want to manage in the Ryman League,” said Robbins.

“I could have gone to a Ryman League club, not as the manager, and I’ve decided that I want to stay here.

“I’m completely committed to this club and this is a club that I personally want to grow with.

“Funnily enough I’ve applied for this job a couple of times and never got near it and then the time I did get it I didn’t look for it (as I was the club’s reserve team manager), if that makes sense, it was given to me.

“Improvements will be going on behind the scenes with the board and they will be doing everything they have got to do to bring that (Culverden Stadium) up to the standard.

“At the same time of them doing that I will be bringing the football up to the standard. Hopefully those two will crisscross.

“If you’re going to be quite blunt about it, you’ll probably talking about a two stroke three year plan of really hitting this division and then get out of it.

“To be honest, last year was probably the first year of a three year plan with me involved.

“This year you’re looking for stability. We have to finish top six really to build on that for the following season.

“We know the form we had last, the back end of the season, that was top six form so we know what we’re capable of.

“These guys were getting used to what I expect. It was a lot less professional on match day and a lot less professional how some players conducted themselves at certain times and we’ve swept through it.

“We said this is what you’re going to do, this is when you’re going to do it and this is how you’re going to do it and the guys have responded marvellously.”

Robbins, meanwhile, played down rumours that he has a high budget ahead of the next campaign.

“The budget is similar to last season,” he said. “I’ve heard a rumour I’ve got loads of money, I haven’t!

“I try not to talk about money with players. I want them to be here and play for Tunbridge Wells.

“If it costs them (money) to play then I try to give it to them back. I try to reimburse what they pay so if someone comes all the way to me from Canterbury I will be trying to reimburse what they spend out.

“I don’t want people to be out of pocket but sometimes needs must. Our budget is up there, probably in the middle of the table.”

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk