Sandeman joins Tunbridge Wells' management team

Sunday 24th May 2009

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Mike Robbins will be keeping to his policy of playing local players next season.

The Wells targeted a top-six finish last season, but the Culverden Stadium outfit dropped down to tenth in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table following budget cuts during the course of the season, which meant Robbins was forced to drop some star names.

“I still believe that although we did not gain enough points to actually finish in the top six, that our football was easily good enough to have finished up there," Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

"With a little rub of the green, I can find eight or ten extra points that we really should have won."

Robbins is expecting most of his side to report back to pre-season training at the start of July.

"The majority will be there," he confirmed. "I have one or two who will go and have pre-season elsewhere, but they will be back if it doesn't work out for them.

But Robbins isn’t sitting back waiting for everything to fall into place come June 30th. He's actively pursuing his targets and making sure the personnel he wants in his squad are those who will bring the right blend of characteristics and qualities to make what will be the 25th anniversary season since The Wells last Kent League title win one to remember.

He said: “I can tell you that I believe three-quarters of my squad are here at the club already, but this is easily my busiest time, targeting and chatting to players.

"I have spoken to last year’s squad already, and as I said, from those discussions, I expect that the majority will stay.

“I expect to have a few players returning to the club who will come back stronger players than when they left, and we have been in touch with all of our targets, who have provisionally said that they will be reporting for pre-season training at the club at the end of June.

“Above all, I want to build a side that actually wants to play here at Culverden for all the right reasons - a side that all the 16–18 year old local talent actually want to progress to play for.

"Last year I had some of the very best players in this division, and I truly believe that had they stayed on and fought that the club would have finished further up the table.

“On the other hand, in losing some players, others came back and showed that with a good pre-season behind them, they will be part of a good side – Luke Wallond immediately springs to mind. Luke only left us in the first place to gain first team experience in the Combined Counties League.”

Wallond also strongly represents the local talent Robbins is scouring the area for, but that issue of local talent might raise some eyebrows too.

While some could look to the achievements of Ramsgate five years ago to point towards what can be achieved in keeping a side local together, others could argue that in order to achieve in the game, there’s no room for ‘local sentimentality’, the best crop of players should be brought in from all over the county and beyond if necessary.

Obviously in today’s environment, money is not readily available to lure players, and effectively buy success. And Robbins believes that his philosophy of shopping local will win over any doubters once the action starts next season as well as guarantee player-loyalty.

“I honestly believe that if I were lucky enough to sign the 16 best players from the area (most have been taught at a higher level of the game) I would be able to give The Wells fans a season to remember. At this minute, I believe I already have the basis of that sixteen," he said.

“A few players have come and gone this year who I am hoping to persuade to come back, and I have a few targets that have never worn a Tunbridge Wells shirt too. Mix that up and hopefully we will have a truly explosive cocktail.

“While there is no 'sentimentality' for me to go local.

"If the players live on the doorstep, then they won’t be late or miss training because 'the car broke down', for example. Hopefully they will come and use the club as a social venue and gel closer together too. Practically all of my squad know my targets and vice versa. They have played against each other at school levels, read about each other in (the local press) and know all the same mates.

“Last year, I wanted to challenge a few of the local lads to test themselves – and this year I want to do the same: I want them not to sit comfortably in the reserves but to test, and push themselves in the first team set-up.”

For those still unsold on the idea of local growth, Robbins lists a side he could have fielded using players on his books during the course of last year, including Czanner, Bourne, Rich, Boyle, Cooper, Newman, Fuller, Phillips, Foreman, Wallond and Lord - the furthest-away player coming in from Maidstone.

“I believe that a side like that would want to give everything for the Tunbridge Wells shirt. Other players including Benji Agana, Danny Powell and Alex Rich who left to pursue other avenues would also have something to add to that mix.

“I obviously have one or two here from further afield, who in my opinion have been adopted by the fans as favourites, and they will be staying on to fight for their shirts. One player in particular has been approached by three other clubs, but he turned up at my house to sign forms.

"Ultimately, though, we all know that there is a recession out there, so this is an ideal time for [assistant manager] Martin Larkin and I to assemble a side to tempt the fans who can’t afford to watch league football anymore to come to Culverden and support their local side. With a side like the one above, I think we’d be well on the way.

“We need this to be a season where everyone is pulling in the same direction, and the club must become exactly that - a club - that’s essential to the future success of Tunbridge Wells FC. I want the community to embrace the team and vice versa.”

Supporters will have read about Larkin’s success in securing Esporta as a part of mid-week training, and Mascall's School has also been secured to help with the training.

But in addition, Brad Sandeman, who played in the Football League for Maidstone United, joins the management team for next season, proving that he can’t stay away from the game.

Robbins added: "I beleive that Brad will be one of my best signings. He will do pre-season and sign forms as usual, but essentially he is on the bench with Martin and I."

“I believe that Brad will be one of my best signings,” Robbins concluded. “He will do pre-season and sign forms as usual, but essentially he is on the bench with Martin and I.”

Article courtesy of www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk