I will not tolerate poor discipline next season, says Dolby

Having picked up fourteen red cards during the campaign just ended, Tony Dolby insists his Tonbridge Angels side will clean up their act next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels, one of the better footballing sides in Kent, flourished on their return into the Ryman Premier League as they finished just nine points adrift of the play-off’s in eleventh place.

They also reached the final of the Kent Senior Cup and lost in the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup, losing at home to Newport County.

But the west Kent club are expecting a nasty letter to drop into their letterbox as the Football Association ask why the club have picked up around sixty yellow cards and fourteen reds.

Writing on the club’s fans’ forum, Dolby insists their discipline will improve when the new season kick’s off on 18^th August.

“We have had some bad luck with injuries to key players at key times, which you could argue cost us quite a few points in the end,” he told www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum.

“But our discipline has cost us even more and there are no excuses for a lot of the bookings, sending offs that have led to suspensions and weakened us when we most needed to be at full strength.

“This is a major part in my plans for next season and will not be tolerated at all.

“Yes, be committed but in the right way then I will have no complaints.”

Dolby admitted he is very animated inside his technical area.

He said: “I know people will refer to my mouth and touchline antics but I do preach to the lads to do as I say not as I do.

“I am very much up for it on match days and want so much to win that I do go over the top sometimes and without losing my competitive edge I will endeavour to keep a lid on it as much as possible.

“There is a way to go about things and the very fine line between right and wrong is often crossed but lots of discipline is on the menu for pre-season and taking it forward in the new season is a must.”

Dolby and his assistant Mike Rutherford have been linked by fans to the vacant managerial posts at their former club Welling United.

But Dolby remains fully focused to continue bringing success to the west Kent club.

“Analysis for the season from my point of view is that step one of our plan (is) to keep going forward and take the club to greater heights has been achieved,” said Dolby.

“However, the next step is all I am working towards now and I have already been very active in getting together a squad to exceed this year’s achievements.”

He added: “The chairman and I remain fully focused on the future of Tonbridge Angels and taking the club forward is what we constantly aspire to.

“Together I feel we have what it takes to keep bringing success to Longmead.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites:

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk  &  www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum