We need to generate a bit more money to stay up - Jenkins

Tuesday 29th December 2009

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says he understands the warning from his chairman that he may have to consider letting two more players leave the club if the club doesn’t increase it’s match-day revenue, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chairman Gary Hillman has warned that the Ryman Premier League club “may seriously have to consider letting two more players go,” if match day income doesn’t increase through income generated from gate receipts, golden goals and raffles ticket sales.

The club do not get a penny from bar takings as tenants at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground and the only income that they generate comes from gate receipts and sponsorship.

The Wands’ average attendances of just 184 are a far cry from Dartford’s average of 1,133 at Princes Park and a crowd of over 300 is expected at Hayes Lane when the two side’s meet again on Saturday.

Tony Burman’s Darts are now ELEVEN points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League table, after romping to a 5-2 victory at Canvey Island tonight.

But Jenkins, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk just minutes after tonight’s home game against Sutton United was postponed within two hours of kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch, goes into the Kent derby in buoyant mood, having held the Darts to a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day.

“A good point,” was how he described his side’s efforts at Princes Park. “We would’ve taken that before hand but on the game itself I think we deserved three points on the second half performance.

“Although they went down to ten men, I thought we were playing quite well up to that point and probably dominated the last third of the game and maybe should’ve got more out of it.”

Jenkins was raring for tonight’s game against sixth-placed Sutton United to go ahead.

The match had originally passed a two o’clock pitch inspection, but constant rain in Bromley meant a second pitch inspection had been called for 6 o’clock, but match referee, Mr Michael O’Keefe deemed the pitch waterlogged two hours before the scheduled start.

Jenkins, who spoke to the Sevenoaks official, said: “He said there was water lying on it but the ground staff said if it didn’t rain two hours before kick-off they could get on it and do a bit of work on it, but as you can see it’s raining. He’s given it a chance, it’s just one of those things.”

Jenkins was clearly disappointed with the postponement, adding, “We were expecting a few here tonight as well because their well supported.”

Jenkins is looking forward to the second clash against league leaders Dartford on Saturday.

“It’s interesting really,” he said. “We played Saturday so we know each other’s games and it’s going to be cagey like it was on Saturday early on.

“I’m looking forward to it. I hope the game’s going to be on. It would be nice if it was on because it will be a decent crowd.”

And decent crowds is exactly what Cray Wanderers are desperate for as they struggle to make ends meet.

With his chairman presently away, Jenkins didn’t read about the budget cut threat until this evening.

“I only read that on the website myself tonight,” revealed Jenkins. “I don’t know about losing a couple of players, that’s part of what I’ve got to do really as a manager.

“We don’t average that many and the many we do have they put their hands in their pocket with the 100 Club and things like that but we need to generate a bit more.

“I’ve tried to do it pre-season with sponsorships and I think I’ve brought a few bob in. People are trying their hardest but we’re not the biggest club in the world so it’s going to be hard.

“But without Gary and John (Woolf) we wouldn’t be as far as we are now so if he’s saying things like that it must be, not serious, but it must be a concern for him so let’s hope that people do put their hands in their pockets.”

The long-serving Jenkins added: “Gary is a bit disappointed with the crowds. The Maidstone game and the local derbies haven’t been that good but the weather conditions have been a bit harsh. The night games have been cold and you can understand people staying at home and watching Champions League football on television.

“It’s what it’s like these days with the current climate. It’s hard for people to keep putting their hands in their pockets every week.”

Cray Wanderers go into the game sitting one place and one point above the relegation zone and that will do for Jenkins when their first ever season at this level ends in 20 games time.

“I’m pleased we’re out of it,” Jenkins said of their current position in the table. “I’m confident this squad can get us out of the current problem.

“I’m not concerned too much at the moment. It’s one of those things. It’s a new league and it was all new to us and you can only have to look at the league table to see how strong it is below Dartford. They’re running away with it, they’re losing a few points lately but below them everyone’s beating each other.”

When asked where he’d like to finish their campaign, Jenkins replied, “I’d be happy to be out of the bottom four!

“I spoke to Tony (Burman) at Dartford and he’s the only one to put his finger on top place because at the moment no-one seems to be wanting to catch them up.

“Everyone else is just fighting for the highest place that they can get and you see where that takes you.”

When asked whether there was pressure from the two-man board, Jenkins replied, “The only pressure is on myself and Joe (Francis) is the same. We put pressure on ourselves. We don’t want to be down there.

“I’ve never been involved in a relegation fight in my managerial career or even in my playing career. I was down at the bottom in the early days with Cray but obviously we want to keep out of the relegation zone and see where it takes us.”

Tommy Tyne, meanwhile, is available for selection, having completed his suspension.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Dartford
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 2nd January 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF