Lover leaves with our blessing, says Francis

CRAY WANDERERS open their pre-season programme against Kent League side Holmesdale on Thursday night without two of their favourite players, writes Stephen McCartney.

Wands assistant manager Joe Francis has revealed that midfielder Ross Lover, 22, will be signing for Blue Square South outfit Welling United tonight.

And striker Michael Power could also move to Park View Road if the former Bromley and Tonbridge Angels striker impresses Wings boss Andy Ford.

And Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, said: “Ross Lover signed for Welling tonight and he goes with our best wishes.

“He’s been with us for six years and he’s been one of our real success stories.

“He’s an outstanding footballer with great talent and Jenko (manager Ian Jenkins) and myself are sorry to see him go, but he goes with our best wishes.

“He played in our first team at sixteen - he’s 22-year-old now and he’s nearly played 300 games for us.

“I hope he listens to Jimmy Dack, whose the number two, and Fordy and he develops as a player.”

And speaking about Power, Francis, 40, added: “I know Ross is signing today. I don’t know about Shaggy but I hope Shaggy does as well.

“Me and Jenko both know that Ross and Shaggy will have Cray in their hearts - they were both part of the club’s development.”

The Holmedale match has been switched to Langley Park Sports & Social Club in Hawksbrook Lane, Beckenham as the contractors that are working on the new floodlights at Oakley Road, Bromley, have damaged the pitch.

But Francis doesn’t mind that the Cray side will be playing in unfamiliar surroundings.

He said: “What are my thoughts on it? It’s better than training!”

Fans watching the game will see the club’s new signings in action for the very first time.

Meaty midfielder, Scott Kinch, signed from Tonbridge Angels and striker Tony Atkins, signed from Beckenham Town, will feature.

And Francis revealed that the versatile Tony Dolby, 34, will start the first half in an unfamiliar strikers role.

Dolby, who resides in Chislehurst, ended last season as the manager of Hastings United, where in four months in charge at The Pilot Field he guided the club to Ryman Premier League survival.

Prior to that, however, he spent four eventful seasons here in Kent with Tonbridge Angels as their player-manager, before being replaced by Tommy Warrilow last November.

As a player, Dolby, who has a lethal left-foot and takes set-pieces, played for Millwall, Barnet, Gravesend & Northfleet, Chesham United, Welling United and Fisher Athletic.

“Tony Dolby is going to play centre forward for us in the first 45 minutes,” revealed Francis.

“We’re hoping to have another prominent division one centre forward there tomorrow night.”

Francis stated that Dolby has relished being put through his paces during pre-season.

He said: “He’s done really well in pre-season, by his own admission. He’s enjoyed the challenge of preparing as a player for the first time in four years. It’s just nice to have that bit of quality about.

“We’re going to have a look at him, as a player. You will have to ask him if it’s awkward or not (the transformation from manager to a player). I think he’s relishing it. He’s a quality player.”

Speaking about tomorrow’s derby game, Francis said: “It’s just a run out. We’ve been training for eight of the last ten days and you just want a match situation.

“It’s the earliest we’ve ever played and you just want to give players minutes in a match situation.

“We’re not looking at anything other than that. We’re looking at our new players and we’re training again on Saturday.”

Visit Holmesdale’s website:  www.holmesdalefc.co.uk

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website:  www.craywands.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match on Thursday evening.

Holmesdale v Cray Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Thursday 10^th July 2008
Kick Off 7:15pm
At Langley Park Sports & Social Club, Hawkesbrook Lane, Beckenham