I need money to increase squad numbers, admits Warrilow

Saturday 27th June 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has today voiced his concerns over the condition of the Longmead Stadium pitch - fourteen days before the visit of Coca-Cola League One side Gillingham, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels, who missed out on promotion last season as they lost to Carshalton Athletic in the Ryman Premier League play-off semi-final, reported back to pre-season training in sweltering conditions this morning.

Warrilow and his coaching staff put the squad through their paces as they prepare to face Mark Stimson’s Wembley play-off winners in a lucrative fixture for the west Kent club.

“It will be nice to get them down here,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the two-hour work-out at Tonbridge Farm, adjacent to Longmead Stadium.

“They’ve had a great season, I hope there’s a great turnout and it will set us off on the right footing.”

He added, “But the most important thing is to get the pitch right - and safe.

“It doesn’t look at the moment to be too near it, but two weeks is a long time.

“Let’s get the pitch right. If the pitch is not right, all we can do is address that when it happens, but hopefully they do come here with the first team.”

Sixteen players, including Lee Worgan, Scott Gooding, Jamie Cade, Anthony Storey, Steve Ferguson, Lee Minshull, Kirk Watts, Carl Rook and Leon Legge blew the cobwebs away as the Garden of England bathed in hot sunshine.

Defender Nick Davis, a summer signing from Ramsgate, watched from the sidelines - and Paul Booth and Lewis Hamilton missed the session as they were on holiday.

With central defender Legge and striker Rook on the transfer list, Warrilow believes the pair will not be at the club come the big kick-off on 15 August.

He said: “I’ve got Lewis Hamilton coming back of holiday, hopefully we’ll touch base and hopefully he might show his face again.

“But I think a couple of the boys won’t be here when we kick-off, because of the financial reasons, but it’s a good ten or eleven (players that I’ve got) but that’s not going to get us through the season.

“I’ve just emphasised to the youth team boys out there, they’ve got a good chance this year.

“Some of them done well last year when they came in and they had a very, very hard time, because I had 18 quality (first-team) players and it was very hard for them to break in. This year is different so it’s up to them now.”

Warrilow, who pulled Legge out of a kick-around towards the end of the training session, following a five-minute one-to-one chat, believes the former Lewes defender will be leaving the club soon.

“I think Leggy will be gone this week,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything to give it the kiss of death, but we’re just sorting the final bits out but Leon will probably be gone by next week. That’s why I pulled him out of the game at the end.”

He added: “I wanted to keep Carl (Rook) and hoping something will happen, but if the (transfer) funds come in for Carl then I really need to bring two or three players rather than spend it on one.

“It’s not a nice situation to be in. I want to keep Carl but logically I don’t think I can because I would need his money to bring in a couple of players to bolster the squad.

When asked if he has any money in the pot, Warrilow alarmingly replied, “No! No money! That’s what I mean, every week I’m waiting, if something comes in. It’s got to be quite a bit because I thought Leon would go, why no-ones taken him already, I’d never know.”

But Warrilow says the club needs a new sponsor to help bridge the gap.

“I believe there’s one in the wings, but I’ve left that to the board to sort out,” he said.

“Once it is, I will know what it is and what I’ve got from it and I’ll strengthen accordingly.

“We’re hoping there’s a saviour around the corner who injects some money into the club, which we can then spread out and start looking after each other again.”

He added, “We’ve got a good 11-12 players, but we need to bring a few more players in.

“My phone rings all the time, I’ve spoken to a few players but I’ve got nothing to offer then so I’ve got to wait until I’ve got something.”

So, what can the Longmead faithful expect from the Angels this coming season?

The club recorded their highest ever finish (of third) in the Ryman Premier League last season, but the budget is nowhere the one that Warrilow had at his disposal last term, due to Nick Sullivan and Garry Pass (the club’s chairman and vice-chairman respectively) stepping down last month.

“This time last year we were one of the favourites, that’s changed now,” Warrilow admitted.

“We had a great season last year, what I want this year is a good cup run and to do well in the league obviously.

“I’m not setting any goals this year because I want to see what I’m starting (the season) with. I’ve set myself standards, what I don’t want to be associated with is a pile of rubble.

“I’ve told the boys what I want out of them and what I believe we can get.”

But Warrilow has warned players could still leave the club ahead of the start of their Ryman Premier League campaign.

“I’ve got a lot of boys who aren’t on contracts, like a lot of clubs,” he said. “What I have learnt is when people disappear, other people turn up.

“But what I have here is a good set of lads and they have shown their loyalty by coming back. It’s not all about the money but it does make a difference when someone’s making you an offer, when it effects your family etc.

“These boys are prepared to stay here, work hard and see if we can push the club on further.”

Warrilow added: “At the moment I’ve got 10 players and the spin off from the reserves and 18s but I would hope if I can get 14-15 players I’d be lucky.”