My ambition is to take Cray into the Football League - Jenkins

Sunday 05th July 2009

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins has revealed winger Ross Lover is back training with the club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The talented midfielder had left the club to sign a one-year deal at Blue Square South side Welling United last July, but his stay at Park View Road lasted three months, and because the Wands held his Ryman League registration, he could only play for the reserves when Keith McMahon brought him to Thamesmead Town.

Wings boss Andy Ford had beaten off competition from then league rivals AFC Wimbledon, but when www.kentishfootball.co.uk asked Jenkins yesterday how pre-season training is coming along, he revealed that Lover is very much in his plans.

He said: “A couple of new bodies there, I’m hoping to sign a young kid, who used to play for us a couple years ago, called Ross Lover.

“He trained with us Thursday and Saturday, so hopefully we’ll do a deal with him in the next couple of days.”

Jenkins was sorry to see Lover leave the club last summer - and hopes he rediscovers the form during his first spell at Hayes Lane.

“He’s a top, top player,” he said. “If he gets his head together for this year, I don’t think he has (wasted a season away from the club). It’s made him realise what he’s missed.”

And when asked about playing Kent League football for Thamesmead Town’s reserves, Jenkins replied, “He’s too good a player to be playing at that level.”

Jenkins revealed that 26 players reported back for pre-season training last Thursday, but only sixteen attended yesterday’s morning session due to work commitments.

And long-serving midfielder, Jamie Kempster re-signed for the club following yesterday’s session, although Jenkins insists goalkeeper Glen Knight will put pen to paper soon.

Jenkins has made three summer signings so far, signing midfielders Rob Quinn (Welling United), Tommy Tyne (Tonbridge Angels) and long-serving Dartford defender, Tommy Osborne.

Aaron Day, Scott Kinch, Lewis Wood, Mark Willy, Dean Standen, Colin Luckett and Steve Aris, have already put pen to paper.

But Dean Morris and Danny Chapman are likely to miss the big kick-off through “work issues.”

“There’s a few more that trained as well over the last three days that we’re happy with and we’re looking at as well, so (Lover) will be another good addition to a squad that’s already strong,” said Jenkins.

“Glen Knight, we didn’t put him on the (retained) list because he hadn’t signed, but Knighty is going to sign. He was there this (Saturday) morning, he will be alright, no problems. Knighty’s definitely going to sign, no problem there.”

He added: “Dean Morris is the only one who is thinking about his future. I don’t think it’s anything to do with football issues, it’s work issues, he’s one who hasn’t signed yet - and Danny Chapman’s another one. He’s got work issues, but other than that it’s as normal plus the ones I want to sign.

“Jamie (Kempster’s) signed, he’s signed this (Saturday) morning, he’s signed, all done.

“The three (Osborne, Tyne and Quinn) are the only ones that have signed, (our) new faces, but I’m looking to sign Ross (Lover) and a couple that have come down for training, so I’m still looking to strengthen.

“Hopefully I will have a squad of 22, if we can start the season with a squad of 22, including two goalkeepers, I will be happy with that.”

Jenkins, who is looking forward to the club’s inaugural Ryman Premier League campaign, says he wants to manage the club at a higher level of football.

“We’re looking to go in and crack on and not consolidate as a team,” he said. “We’re strong enough to do that with the squad that came up last year.

“The additions and the ones I’ve already signed, we’re strong enough to compete anyway for the top spots in the division.

“I’m looking to go on, that’s what I’m all about. I don’t want to be sitting about in the same league for so long. If we can get promoted again, why not?”

Winger Tyrone Sterling was amongst the Cray Wanderers’ representatives at the Cray Festival, which was held at the St Mary Cray Recreation Ground last Saturday.

“With the budget being cut we have to get the club noticed in the area,” explained Jenkins. “Me and Joe (Francis, my assistant manager) have gone out and done a lot of promotional stuff with sponsorship.

“Tyrone Sterling is running a soccer school for the club and that seems to be going well.

“The club is getting noticed in the local area, we’re coming back here in four years, so it’s nice to get noticed.

“Hopefully, by the time we get a new ground, we might be playing in the League, that’s my ambition anyway.”

Now in his 18th season with the club, Jenkins praised the contribution that Gary Hillman and John Woolf (the club’s chairman and vice-chairman respectively) bring to the party.

“Since the early times you always knew what Cray were all about,” he said. “We’ve just built it on a little bit now, with the help of Gary and John it’s moved on.”

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