I will put things right, vows Dolby - EXCLUSIVE

Under pressure Tonbridge Angels boss Tony Dolby has vowed that his under-performing side will start climbing the table, after slumping to their fourth successive league defeat today, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels only have Heybridge Swifts below them in the Ryman Premier League table, after going down 2-1 to local rivals Maidstone United, who started the game at the foot of the table, at Bourne Park.

And Dolby’s response was to lock his players’ inside the dressing room for over an hour, before emerging at 6pm and having a quiet word with his assistant manager Mike Rutherford on the training pitch.

But Dolby, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, did reveal what was said during the clear-the-air talks with his players.

“Plenty was said, we tried to strip it down to get as much detail as to where we think we’re going wrong and why,” he said.

“It was very constructive what we was saying and I think it’s now time to regroup and can’t wait for Tuesday to put it behind us.”

Jon Main’s sixth goal of the season, after 81 minutes, cancelled out Nick Hegley’s eighth minute opener, before Luis Cumbers, a nineteen-year-old striker, whose on a work-experience loan spell from Gillingham, marked an impressive 45 minute debut, by tucking home the winner for Maidstone United within three minutes.

“It’s happened too often,” Dolby bemoaned as his side once again let points slip away from their grasp.

“Lack of concentration, whatever you want to call it, you’re most vulnerable when you’ve just scored, been true to how we’ve started the campaign.

“That’s something, one of many things, that needs to be addressed, and dealt with.”

Dolby admitted that he’s currently experiencing a new all-time low as Angels’ manager - but vows to put things right.

“Especially when the expectations were so high, from myself, and all associated with the club, including the players,” he said.

“It is the lowest point and without a doubt we’ll be doing all we can to turn it around and get a few wins under our belt.”

Dolby has come under attack from disgruntled fans that have been calling for his head on fans’ forums on the internet.

But he said: “It’s a results business and when you’re not winning these are the kind of things that are said and brought up.

“Obviously I’ve got confidence in my own ability as a manager. I’ve certainly not become a bad manager over night.

“You’re going to get these things, especially when you’re near the foot of the table.

“It’s a results business and when you’re down the foot of the table, everybody’s going to start asking questions, especially when the expectations were so high.

“Me personally, doing all I can, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to turn it around.

“We need to get Tuesday out the way, another FA Cup game (at home to Maldon Town) next Saturday, the game’s can’t come quickly enough at the moment for us to put it right.

“Everybody is wanting to win, that’s not an issue, it’s what we have to do during the course of the game to make sure we get the right results.”

Dolby has promised changes for Tuesday night’s home game against Ashford Town (Middlesex) - a game that the Angels must win against a side that’s now in the bottom four.

“I think every game’s a must-win game for us at the moment,” admitted Dolby. “It’s all we’ve got to go on each game.

“We must win the next game, we must win it. We can’t keep saying that.

“We have to do something about it and hopefully Ashford will be on the end of a good team performance.

“Obviously I’ll asses today, see where we went wrong, see where we need strengthening.

“There’s certainly changes that can be made and I’d imagine a couple that will be made but we’ve got some very good players.

“I keep saying that we’ve got very good players, but it’s not quite happening for us at the moment.

“But it’s a worrying time in the sense, second from bottom is not acceptable by a long shot - we need some dramatic improvement.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites: 
www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Tonbridge Angels v Ashford Town (Middlesex)
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 25^th September 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Betterview Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW