We're building foundations for next year's sustainable play-off push, says Bromley boss Hayden Bird

BROMLEY boss Hayden Bird says he wants to end the season in a very positive manner, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Lillywhites claimed the local bragging rights by beating Dartford 4-1 at Hayes Lane on Good Friday.

Two central defenders, Jerry Nnamani and Jerrome Sobers put Bromley in the driving seat with two goals inside the opening 22 minutes, before Charlie Sheringham pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Leon McKenzie increased Bromley’s lead in his last game before a three-match suspension, and strike partner Warren McBean ended his SEVENTEEN game goal-drought with a clinical strike.

Supporters face a travel nightmare to get to Chelmsford tomorrow, before Bromley complete their league campaign at home to a big and physical Eastleigh side on Saturday.

Then it’s a trip to Princes Park to contest the Kent Senior Cup Final against Dartford on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May (3pm).

Chelmsford City lie in seventh place in the Blue Square Bet South table on 71 points and are only one point behind fifth-placed Woking.

Eastleigh, meanwhile, are eight points ahead of Bromley, in eighth place in the table, but the Lillywhites should finish their highest ever position in four years at this level.

“It’s great news isn’t it?  I’ve said all along that the objective is to improve,” said Bird.

”If Bromley can win the Kent Senior Cup and secure a place in the top ten, I think that’s a successful season for this club.

”Importantly gives us really solid foundations to go on next year to the next level, which quietly behind the scenes is what we’re working towards.”

Looking ahead to their last two league games, Bird said, “Two tough games now.  Chelmsford are clearly going at us as they clearly need that play-off spot.  Eastleigh have big players, probably fallen a little bit short.  I would’ve expected them to make the top five this season, but they’re a good side and of course then we have the Cup Final.

”It’s going to be a great end to the season and the players in Bromley Football Club will be involved in the next two games staking their place in the Cup Final team.”

When asked whether he already knows his Cup Final starting eleven, Bird replied, “No!  I know tactically what we’ll do but I haven’t given anything away (on Friday) on purpose and there might be one or two surprises up my sleeve for the final.”

Goalkeeper Tom Lovelock started his eighth game for Bromley against Dartford, as number one Craig Holloway sat out with a painful rib injury.

”Tom will be a professional goalkeeper with Leyton Orient next season and I’m absolutely delighted for him,” revealed Bird.

”I think Bromley have played their part in it by speaking to Kevin Dearden, his goalkeeper coach.  Russell Slade (Leyton Orient’s first team manager) has come down to watch him during his time here and that’s maybe tipped the balance in helping him get a professional contract.

“I’m really pleased for him but I’m not surprised.  We had a really outstanding young goalkeeper, Wes Foderingham here (who was snapped up by Crystal Palace).

”Tom’s a year or so behind Foderingham in his development but the way he played in the second half (against Dartford), he commanded the penalty area and really showed what an outstanding young goalkeeper he is.  He can have a big future.”

Bird will sit down with club owner Jerry Dolke at the end of the season to ensure the club will be pushing towards the play-off’s next season, having slipped down the table due to a poor run of form after winning their first seven games and exceeding all expectations.

“Jerry and I will sit down when the campaign ends and talk and he’ll give me his views, I’ll give him my views and we’ll work out budgets, targets, footballing brief.

”What we can all see here, as I said earlier, the foundations are being laid to have a really enjoyable campaign and to hopefully to take this club onto the next level next year.

”The next level is to see if we can sustain our position in the top five to the business end of the season.

”This season, however, I would like to stress is not a problem because that wasn’t expected.  The expectations were only raised through our start to the season. 

”Next season, hopefully, we can improve sufficiently into having a real push throughout the entire campaign.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Chelmsford City  v  Bromley
Blue Square Bet South
Easter Monday 25^th April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Melbourne Park, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2EH