We're sticking together and finishing off the job that Tony Russell started, says James Collins

ERITH TOWN’S newly-appointed manager James Collins says his players want to continue the hard work that his predecessor put in at the club.



Tony Russell, 33, quit the club on 27 October after guiding the club to the Kent League summit with a 3-1 home win over Beckenham Town and took over at VCD Athletic the following morning.

The Dockers appointed Collins, 29 and player-coach Dean Morris permanently following their 2-2 draw away to Cray Valley (Paper Mills) in the Macron Kent League Cup First Round First Leg.

Collins, who first came to the club to manage the reserve side three years ago, said: “It’s been pretty hectic sort of speaking to all of the players individually and finding out what their thoughts were.  We had the Cray Valley game and we had everyone there. 

“We’re trying to continue on what Tony started really. The only person who has gone so far would be Ray Powell, who obviously has gone with Tony as his assistant manager.

“We had a meeting and everyone said they’re happy to stay so at the minute we’re just going with that.

“I’m sure people will be interested in our players because we’re doing so well but as far as I’m concerned me and Dean have spoken to everyone and everyone is happy to stay.”

Collins admitted the club’s table-topping position at the top of the Kent League has helped keep the squad together.

“That’s what we said,” he said. “We’re in a great position. Tony done a great job but it started when Steve O’Boyle came in and I came in to be reserve team manager three years’ ago and it’s been a three-year plan.

“Your Ben Payne’s, Liam Burgess’s, Peter Smith's and Chris Walker's have all been there for three years so we feel like the last two years of hard work and we’re reaping the rewards of it so it would be a shame for all of it to stop now I guess.”

Collins took charge of the first team when Erith Town travelled to AFC Croydon Athletic in the London Senior Cup on 12 September.

The Dockers won the game 4-3 after extra time, although the game should have never got to that point as London Senior Cup ties should be settled by a penalty shoot-out if scores are level after 90 minutes.

Collins takes his side to face Ryman League Division One South side Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night to contest a Third Round tie.

Gavin Rose’s side are in third-place in the table, just three points adrift of title-favourites Maidstone United, who have a couple of games in hand.

Reflecting on managing the game against AFC Croydon Athletic, Collins said: “It was great to do that and I was thankful for Tony for giving us that chance. It was a good game but we made hard work of it but we got through to the next round and I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.”

Collins is looking forward to the game at Champion Hill and said: “I don’t know what sort of team they’ll put out but there’s a couple of things that we’re going to look at. We haven’t got a league game now until the 24^th November.

Collins revealed Lee Craig is on holiday for three weeks and Cory Walters-Wright is injured.

“Ray Powell is coming out of the back four so there will be a couple of changes in the back four – but we’ll be going with a strongish side.

“I don’t mind what team they put out. I think we’ve got really, really, really good players. Things have changed in the last couple of weeks with Tony going.  I think for us it’s keeping the momentum going and taking each game as it goes.”

“We didn’t have a game on Saturday so everyone needs minutes so it would be a good test for us whatever team they put out.

Erith Town welcome Cray Valley to Erith Sports Stadium on Saturday in the second leg of the Macron Kent League Cup and with the game evenly poised at 2-2 Collins says there’s plenty to play for.

“It was our first game in charge and obviously we were 2-0 up so slightly disappointed conceding two late goals but I think with the week that we had, we would have taken two-all before the game and it gives us two away goals as well.  I think Cray Valley are a good side so it was a good result.”

Collins added: “Dean and I have said we’re going to do it together. It’s not about me being the manager and Dean being the assistant.

“We all have to stick together now and that’s what we said (at training) on Tuesday.

“It’s really, really exciting. I think we’re in four cup competitions still, I think I’m right in saying that, top of the league. I think it’s exciting times.

“We’ve all said the same things, to stick together with little change as possible and carry on with the good work that Tony started and finish the job.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Kent League, Holmesdale confirmed today that they have given Paul Proctor the manager’s job on a permanent basis following “a successful period as caretaker manager.”

The Bromley based club began Proctor’s reign with a 2-1 away defeat by landlords Greenwich Borough, before losing 5-3 at Erith & Belvedere in the London Senior Cup.

But they did the double over Rochester United in seven days to progress through to the Second Round of the Macron Kent League Cup 7-4 on aggregate, despite the former Bromley youth team manager being without target-man Steve Stotten, who has opted to move down a division, to unbeaten Kent Invicta League leaders Phoenix Sports.

Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtown.co.uk

Dulwich Hamlet  v  Erith Town
London Senior Cup (sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Third Round
Tuesday 6^th November 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD