Soccer Shorts: Osborn named as Bromley boss

TONIGHT www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you the latest news snippets from Bromley, Ebbsfleet United, Welling United, Tonbridge Angels, Folkestone Invicta, Sittingbourne and Slade Green - as well as the quarter-final draw of the Ryman League Cup.

BROMLEY have appointed Simon Osborn as the club’s new player-manager, having impressed during his spell as caretaker manager following Mark Goldberg’s shock departure at the beginning of last month.

Derek Parnham has once again taken up the job of assistant, with Bobby Bowry continuing in the role of first team player-coach.

The trio had been in charge of the Hayes Lane club on a caretaker basis since 5^th December 2007.

Speaking to www.bromleyfc.net, chairman Mr Jerry Dolke, said: “I have been very impressed with the way that Simon, Del and Bobby have handled things since the sudden departure of Mark Goldberg and I’m delighted to make their positions permanent.

“They have shown great application to the job at hand and produced some impressive performances from the side, notably at Cambridge City and Bognor Regis Town as well as the memorable Boxing Day win over Thurrock.

“I have every confidence that they will continue to take the club in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, on the playing front, big defender Francis Duku has left Hayes Lane to join their Blue Square South rivals, Welling United.

The former Gravesend & Northfleet and Fisher Athletic defender made a total of 80 appearances for the club, having signed from the Fish in the summer of 2006.

Bromley travel to Bath City on Saturday.

THERE could be three Kent sides in the quarter-finals of the Ryman League Cup - if Dartford and Tonbridge Angels win their outstanding fourth round ties.

The Darts travel to Heybridge Swifts next Tuesday and if they defeat the Ryman Premier League side they will tackle Swifts’ rivals’ Wealdstone or Ashford Town (Middlesex).

The Angels, meanwhile, have been handed the lowest ranked side left in the competition - Walton Casuals - but must beat Carshalton Athletic first.

Ramsgate welcome Ryman League Division One South leaders Tooting & Mitcham United to Southwood Stadium in a mouth-watering quarter-final clash.

The other tie is between Ryman League Division One North pair AFC Sudbury and Edgware Town.

The Ryman League Cup Quarter-Final draw in full:

Wealdstone or Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Heybridge Swifts or Dartford

Tonbridge Angels or Carshalton Athletic v Walton Casuals

Ramsgate v Tooting & Mitcham United

AFC Sudbury v Edgware Town

Matches pencilled in for week commencing Monday 11^th February 2008

THE BOARD of Directors of Ebbsfleet United are pleased to announce that the due diligence phase of the My Football Club takeover has now been concluded.

The next stage of the process is for MyFC members to formally vote and agree upon the deal.

This process will take seven days. If the members agree, the Blue Square Premier club will then announce the date of an Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders, details of which will be sent to the club’s shareholders within the next ten days.

Meanwhile, the Fleet will know their opponents in the last sixteen of the FA Trophy next Tuesday when Kidderminster Harriers and Weymouth meet in their replay.

Liam Daish takes his side to Histon on Saturday.

WELLING UNITED’S Setanta Shield match against Grays Athletic has been confirmed for Tuesday, 29^th January 2008 (7:45pm).

The managerless Wings travel to Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday after a two week lay-off with vital Blue Square South points up for grabs.

HAMID BARR, has this week been shown the door by Tonbridge Angels manager Tommy Warrilow.

The former Fisher Athletic striker, with fourteen goals this season, has left the Ryman Premier League club “by mutual consent.”

The Angels welcome Heybridge Swifts to the Betterview Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA have added a player on loan from Gillingham in time for the visit of in-form side AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Invicta boss Neil Cugley has brought in the versatile Marvin Hamilton, 19, to Cheriton Road.

Hamilton signed an initial one-year professional deal with the Gills after excelling for their youth side and has made three first team appearances, two as substitute.

Speaking in an audio interview on www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk, Cugley said: “He can play anywhere really. It’s one of the reasons we signed him.

“He’s played in the first team at full-back and he can play in midfield or anywhere.

“We felt, at the moment, we’ve got a small squad and we needed an utility player - he’s also got a long throw.”

HAVING lost midfielder Anthony Hogg to their Ryman League Division One South rivals Ashford Town this week, Sittingbourne boss Gary Abbott has quickly signed a replacement.

Former Gravesend & Northfleet and Margate skipper Pat Gradley, 24, has signed for the Bourne Park club.

Ironically, Hogg and Gradley had signed for the Fleet on the same day.

Meanwhile, defender Ian Varley returns to the Kent club following a brief spell with Flixton. However, he is unable to play at Eastbourne Town on Saturday, serving a one-match suspension.

MATT LONGHURST, the manager of Kent League side Slade Green, has appointed Paul Springett as his new assistant manager.

With three wins and three draws from their 17 league games, Slade Green have Sporting Bengal United, Tunbridge Wells and Faversham Town below them in the table and travel to play a Hythe Town side that’s currently in sixth place in the table - 14 points adrift of leaders VCD Athletic.

“This week, due to injury, I have named Paul Springett as my assistant manager and he will continue in this role until he is fit and back playing,” Longhurst explained to the club’s website.

“Geordie is highly motivated and has a good understanding of the Kent League and has the utmost respect from the younger players in the dressing room and I feel can help me push things in the right direction. I welcome him on board as part of the backroom set-up.”

Having lost 5-0 at home to free-scoring Erith & Belvedere last weekend, Longhurst demands a positive response from his side at Reachfields Stadium this weekend.

“After last week’s abysmal performance we are looking to bounce straight back with a far better performance against one of the league’s title chasing teams,” he said.

“Having beaten them in the league at home we know that we are capable of doing the same away from home.

“However, if we do not put the same effort in as last time with the same amount of quality on the ball, it will be a very different outcome away from home.”

Longhurst revealed that the oldest member of his squad against Hythe will be 23-years-old, but he hopes to add another new face soon.

He said: “I am awaiting the players decision (but) in terms of the squad I feel we are just one or two players away from being a really good side in this league and by the end of January I hope to have those players in place to take us through the season.

“There has been a lot of change in terms of playing personnel and once we get to the end of the month I feel unless an amazing offer comes up we will work with what we have until the end of the season and then go forward from there.”

Visit club websites:

www.bromleyfc.net

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.wellingunited.com

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

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

www.clubwebsite.co.uk/sladegreenfc/