Tompkins adds Malin to Dockers' management team - EXCLUSIVE

Mark Tompkins is relishing his new role as player-manager of Kent League side Erith Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 39-year-old, much travelled striker, a Bromley based builder, arrived at the Dockers as player-coach around seven weeks ago, but following the resignation of Peter Little in September, Tompkins jumped at the chance of landing his first managerial role.

Tompkins, whose played for a long list of clubs including Bromley, Greenwich Borough and Cray Wanderers, revealed that last night he appointed Terry Malin to “run the line”.

Malin spent five seasons at Slade Green, working alongside Phil Miles, before both decided to leave the Small Glen club during the close season.

Miles, who shares the same name as Chatham Town’s manager, was appointed coach at their Kent League rivals Greenwich Borough during the close season, but Malin bided his time.

Tompkins, however, is pleased that he’s been given the opportunity to cut his managerial teeth at this level, before working his way up the ladder.

“I had a couple of friends playing for Erith and they were looking for players,” Tompkins said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening.

“The manager offered me a player-coach role and it went from there.

“I’ve been looking to go into management for 2-3 years now. It didn’t go well for the manager before me but I’ve taken over and we’ve had two draws, one win and one loss.”

Tompkins, whose managing a club that doesn't have a playing budget, is relishing getting the best out of his squad and will give youth team players a chance to shine at Kent League level.

“I am a bit of a motivator, I would say a disciplinarian,” he said. “I like to do things properly.

“I am still playing. I’ve brought in Terry Malin, he joined me last night. He will be running the line for me whilst I’m playing.

“To bring in players I’ll just go through contacts with clubs I’ve played with before - Bromley, Cray and Tooting.

“I’ll ring them up to ask who they are going to release and see if they can do a job for me.

“The club have got a good youth set up so I look at them and they’re a few boys next season will come out of that.”

Erith Town welcome Romford to the Erith Sports Stadium on Saturday in the first round of the FA Vase, and Tompkins has done his homework on the Essex League side.

“They’re a young side, move the ball about well,” he revealed. “It won’t be easy, they close you down quickly - it’s a tough game.”

Trevor Lee, who introduced Tompkins to the club, will miss Saturday’s game with a groin injury, and Ryan Hackett (ankle), Wayne Grizzle (work commitments), Sean Cooney (suspended) are missing.

Goalkeeper Craig Clark, however, is rated 50/50 as he is currently nursing a shoulder injury.

Tompkins added: “I’ve played at the higher level, Terry’s been the manager at Slade Green for five years so he will know the players, opposition and sign players up.

“Our aims are to get as high as we can in the league. I’ve said to the players I want to manage at a higher level but we’ll take it round by round in the cups.”