18thmay04

Royston set to quit Longmead
by Fred Atkins  -  www.kentonline.co.uk

RYAN ROYSTON is leaving Tonbridge Angels and clubs across Kent and South East London are vying for his signature.

The versatile central defender has been runner-up in the Angels player of the year award for the past two seasons, but he was dropped during the end-of-season run-in after a disagreement with manager Tony Dolby.

Tonbridge vice-chairman Paul Dainty shrugged off the blow, saying that the central defensive positions were well covered by Dolby, Andy Larkin, John Beales and Luke Anderson.

Dainty also confirmed that the Angels were negotiating to sign three players, a defender, a midfielder and a striker.

He said: "There may be a couple of surprises. We're getting phone calls from players who want to come and play for us and we're in negotiations with one very good Conference player."

By the end of this week Tonbridge will have secured seven or eight of their current players on contracts.

The former Tonbridge managerial duo of Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume are expected to take over at Maidstone United this week, but Dainty was dismissive of the idea that the pair might successfully raid their old club.

He said: "If someone is that sad that they would want to go from the Isthmian Premier League to the Kent League, then we'd let them."

Royston, however, may well end up with Maidstone, after he was seen watching their 3-2 win over Cray Wanderers last week.

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Email: stephen@mccartney2000.fsnet.co.uk