The future of the club is bright, insists criticised Wells boss - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Sunday 10th December 2006

Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie believes the new year will bring more cheer for the cash-strapped Culverden Stadium club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wells clawed themselves off the foot of the Kent League table yesterday with a 2-2 draw at Deal Town, which meant the team’s night out in Maidstone was not a damp squib.

Farnie’s men lead through goals from Luke Walland and Elliott Everson at the Charles Sports Ground but had to settle for a point.

But with Erith Town losing 3-0 at Lordswood to drop to bottom spot, Tunbridge Wells climbed above them with their sixth point after 12 league outings.

“I hope for a mark improvement on the pitch,” Farnie said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Anyone who comes and watches us we’ll see we are improving every week.

“We have improved from eight weeks ago to now and I think we’re a completely different side.

“I think the confidence is there and I think we’re doing allright at the moment.”

“Hopefully we can make a couple steps forward off the pitch and on the pitch we can keep improving like we are doing, not just the first team but the reserve and the youth team as well.”

Due to a reduced budget, the former Dartford coach has been forced to blood home grown talent alongside some experienced heads.

Everson, promoted from their reserve side, has scored in the last two games, netting during his first start for the first team during their comfortable 4-1 win over Kent County League minnows Hollands & Blair in the second round of the Kent Senior Trophy last Wednesday night.

Other goals from Jason Bourne, a 35-yard screamer, only his second career goal, Adrian Hatcher and Ben Hilden disposed off a poor Hollands & Blair side.

The outclassed Gillingham based outfit, who had their woodwork struck three times, scored their only goal of the game through striker Ben Christy.

The manager of Hollands & Blair, currently fifth from bottom in the British Energy Kent County League premier division table, launched a scathing attack on Farnie and his club following last week’s encounter.

Mick Moran said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “I express my disappointment at the comments made by the Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie.

“I am of the opinion that you should be dignified in both winning and losing, and his opinion that we were both a poor side and one which he felt on a better surface his team would have scored five or six goals against, I felt are very disrespectful to us and do him no credit at all.

“By all means celebrate the success of his team but please do not be disrespectful to the opposition.

“He would do well to remember also that my players pay for the right to play for us.”

Despite the horrendous weather battering the Garden of England recently, Moran slated the playing surface at Culveden Stadium, despite his ground at the Star Meadow Sports Club in Gilllingham not having the facilities as the Kent League club - such as floodlights, perimeter boards and seating.

“I agree we were beaten by the better side on the night but we were forced to play on a surface resembling more of an Irish bog than a football pitch,” he bemoaned.

“We are a footballing side who would revel playing on a quality surface and felt that all the hard work that has been put into the club hinged on a ludicrous decision by the referee that the pitch was fit for use - it wasn’t!

“But I don’t want to give the impression also that I am blaming the pitch for our demise.”

He added: “What an underdog needs when playing quality opposition is their fair share of luck and I am sure Martin Farnie has bemoaned his this season, judging from what I consider a false position Tunbridge Wells are in, in their league.

“I do question the motives of staging the game on a pitch unfit for the purpose but wish them well both in their quest for this trophy and their rapid league recovery.”

Tunbridge Wells, pitch conditions permitting, welcome Kent League leaders Thamesmead Town to Culverden Stadium on Wednesday night where a win could see them claw themselves into the last eight of the Kent League Cup.

This is followed by another home game on Saturday, against a VCD Athletic side that knocked them out of the FA Vase, in a Kent League clash.

Hollands & Blair, meanwhile, look forward to the prospect of travelling to the Ladywell Arena next Saturday, to tackle Lewisham Borough in the top flight of the Kent County League.

Farnie calls for patience from everybody at Culverden Stadium as it will take him between two and three years to have a side challenging at the top end of the table.

“Everyone’s got to be patient and I can see the future is bright for the club,” he said.

“I can see a good finish, I anticipate a good finish, a good pre-season and we can slowly improve our league position next year, maybe top half next year and with some of the experienced lads as well.

“Hopefully next season I can start attracting some other players down here but I don’t want to attract too many as I think I’ve got a nucleus of a really good squad down here and they are young men.”

Visit club websites: