I need to know where I stand with my budget, says Warrilow

Tuesday 19th May 2009

STUNNED Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow says he’s waiting to be told what his reduced budget will be next season - before he makes tough decisions about who will be leaving the club, writes Stephen McCartney.

Nine players and Warrilow are under contract for next season, and although the former Horsham assistant manager has pledged his own personal future at Longmead Stadium, he expects to say goodbye to some of the star names that guided the west Kent club to their highest ever finish in the Ryman Premier League last season.

The club finished their campaign in third place, behind promoted sides Dover Athletic and Staines Town, and although their promotion hopes were dashed by Carshalton Athletic striker Richard Jolly in a home play-off semi-final heartbreaking defeat, the Angels were expected to go on and win the title next season.

But today’s shock news that chairman Nick Sullivan has followed vice-chairman Garry Pass in stepping down from their roles, the club can, at the moment, forget about winning the title next season.

Speaking about his decision to step down earlier in the month, Celtic supporter Mr Pass, who funded the ground improvements that brought Longmead Stadium in line with Blue Square South standards, admitted he has been forced to take a back burner due to a health scare.

He said: "My personal business affairs and the football club both became stressful commitments which eventually became too much for me and have affected my health culminating in a heart attack.

"As I have done for most of the season I will commit myself to clearing any outstanding bills for last season and will pay for the remainder of the new perimeter fence being build during the close season therefore leaving the club debt free."

If that wasn’t bad enough, Mr Sullivan’s decision to also step down today, has left the club in limbo, especially as during his four year tenure at Longmead, the club have improved both on and off the pitch every season.

In his statement this afternoon, Mr Sullivan said now is the time to step aside.

He said: "Since Garry Pass’ decision to step down I have had time to consider my position within the club. For the past four years this club has been my priority having taken over when the chips were down.

"It has been to the detriment of my family life and my health and the time has come to put my family and myself first. My reasons for the decision are private and will remain so and I can assure you that the decision was not taken lightly.

"I am going to take a long break from the game and will not be involved at any level other than to watch the odd game of my own choice.

" I would like to thank all of you who have supported me during my time at Angels and hope that you all agree that we have moved so far forward during these past few years.

"No one person is bigger than this club and it will continue to go forward. With the continuing progress of the club in mind Steve Churcher has been appointed chairman, backed by a board of directors of Maurice Brown, Chris Drew and Colin Fry. I am also delighted to confirm that Tommy Warrilow will remain as first team manager.

Messrs Churcher (who was the club’s president last season), Brown, Drew and Fry were previous board members before Sullivan took the reigns and Warrilow has urged the quartet to provide the funds he needs to remain competitive next season.

“To be honest, I’m still waiting as we speak to secure next season’s budget,” Warrilow told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“The implications with Garry and Nick leaving is leaving me with a lesser budget for next season. From a personal point of view I’m upset because the two of them gave me the job, but they’ve got health issues to attend to and you have to respect that.”

Warrilow added, “The short time that they’ve been at the club they’ve put the club back on the map from the brink of death.

“We have to wait and see what the next 72 hours bring and see what comes out in the wash.”

But Warrilow has been given re-assurances that the club will not be forced into administration.

“There’s people who have stepped up, Garry and Nick haven’t walked away, they’re sitting down with the people and try to pave the way for the future,” he revealed.

“I don’t think the club will go bust or anything to that extent but we have to cut our cloth to what we’ve got and the most important thing is that the club turns out on the pitch and this particular moment the talks over the last two days have been positive.

“I’m waiting for things (the budget) to be finalised and see where we go from here.”

Warrilow met with his squad last Saturday to discuss the club’s situation.

And when asked about making tough decisions about his squad for next season, he replied, “I think I’d be a fool and say I wouldn’t have to, but until I get the final figures in I can’t elaborate to see who will go as I have to trim the squad.

“The last six weeks of the season we brought players in who we knew would have to be addressed once the season finished.

“The budget is to become even more reduced, to what lengths, I still don’t know.

“The strength in depth we’ve built is not going to be there but at the moment that’s the least of the club’s worries. We need to get a team out there so the Tonbridge supporters out there can enjoy watching.”

Warrilow explained why he’s decided to stay loyal to the club.

“I was like everyone else,” he said. “I didn’t know about Garry’s scenario until the presentation night and my first feelings was to see what the fall out was.

“I’ve got a soft spot for the club, my late mum used to drive me to games, it was nearly 30 years ago when I played for them.

“They’ve given me a good opportunity, after a stint at Leatherhead and four years with John (Maggs) at Horsham, people give me the opportunity so I wouldn’t up root and go.”

But despite recent boardroom upheaval, Warrilow would like to point out to concerned supporters that it’s not all doom and gloom.

“I’ve met them (the new board) last night, told them where I was coming from and what I would like,” revealed Warrilow.

“I’m fully appreciative what I want and what I’ll get are two different things (but) it’s my job as a manager to get what I can and it’s my job to get the best out of a bad situation at the moment.

“If the two chairmen had packed up and took their toys home for the wrong reasons I’d be angry, but in Garry’s scenario with his double heart attack it’s needs must. He’s got health reasons, the pair of them have to look after themselves.

“Yes, it’s frustrating, speaking to a lot of people, getting the squad I’ve built here doesn’t happen over night.

“I don’t know whose coming back, the contract players are still at the club as they’ve not been released, but that will change and the other boys were offered reduced terms on Saturday and nothing was agreed so I won’t know whose coming back until at least a couple of weeks or so.

“But there will always be fallouts from other clubs so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Warrilow added, “This time last year we were sitting down aiming for a play-off spot, but that’s what can happen in a year.

“It’s just a little bit up in the air at the moment but it’s more positive than this time last week, so hopefully the longer it goes on the better news will come out.

“There is a budget that will be able to keep some of the better players to build around so that’s a good start.”

Warrilow says he will be attending the open meeting at Longmead Stadium next Tuesday, which gets underway in the Longmead Lounge at 7:30pm.