Farnie "happy" with budget set by new owner - EXCLUSIVE

Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie is keeping faith with the squad that finished their Kent League campaign in the bottom three - but begins the search for new strikers to turn around their fortunes, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former Dartford coach spent a day with incoming new owner Gary Stevens, watching Thamesmead Town lift the Kent League Cup with a 3-0 win over Whitstable Town at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium fifteen days ago.

“We had a meeting at the cup final, we spent a day together and chatted through stuff,” Farnie revealed in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

He added: “I know where I’m going with the budget and stuff (and) I am happy.

“It ain’t going to be a great difference from what I had last year to be honest, but there’s other bits of pieces from there.”

Farnie believes the experienced players that finished last season - and new faces - will improve matters at Culverden Stadium next term.

“There’s about three or four I want to add to it,” he said. “Until I speak to them and see their availability, and see their expenses, I have to see if I get them or not.

“We had a good team at the end (of last season), but I’d like to add a couple of forwards to the squad - that’s what I’m looking for.”

Farnie said that he’ll be contacting his players to see if they want to stay at the west Kent club next season.

He said: “Probably start this week, have a chat with most of the players (but) most of the players have gone away.

“I’ve still got the same lads from last year. None of them have told me they’re leaving.”

But whilst Kent clubs higher up in the football pecking order unveil their retained lists, the Kent League transfer market is a lot more quieter at this time of the year as players tend to settle their futures around pre-season training.

“No-one’s committed themselves yet,” explained Farnie, whose side return to pre-season training on Saturday, 30^th June.

“They’re all seeing whose paying them the most money - so I’ve got plenty of time.”

But any new faces will have to stay for the long-haul.

“I’ll just have a chat with them and try to say what we are trying to achieve over the next three to four seasons,” said Farnie.

“I want people to come here with a bit of life in them but not come here for a season and disappear.

“I want players who are young and hungry for it.”

Also on Farnie’s wish-list is a suitable training venue.

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