Tompkins: I need men around me - EXCLUSIVE

Tompkins, 35, started his playing career in the Kent League with Eltham Town before progressing into the Ryman League and playing for the likes of Tooting & Mitcham, Bromley, Cray Wanderers, Whyteleafe and Southern Leaguers Fisher Athletic.

He is, however, joint-leading scorer for the Dockers with two goals, along with Trevor Lee and highly-rated Dave Milton, who will be out for at least five weeks, having badly bruised his foot whilst playing for the Kent Youth FA representative side against the Army last Saturday.

Tompkins took charge of one of the hardest jobs in Kent football in September, after Peter Little won just one game during his seven game stint at the start of the season, having replaced John Kasapi, whose now assisting Peter Garland at Greenwich Borough, in December 2005.

But Tompkins rejuvenated the side in his first five games, drawing under-achieving neighbours Erith & Belvedere 2-2 in his first ever match as a manager, beating Bedfont 3-1 in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase and picking up a creditable point in a 1-1 draw at Thamesmead Town.

But two days later they were knocked out of the London Senior Cup, going down 3-0 at VCD Athletic and were knocked out of the FA Vase on Saturday, losing 3-2 at home to Romford.

And last night, Tompkins watching from the technical area, saw his side lose 2-0 at Tunbridge Wells in their first Kent League Cup Group D game.

Two stunning strikes from Joe Fuller settled a dour game at a wet Culverden Stadium.

“Didn’t get going, Steve, one of them,” Tompkins said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after Tompkins saw his side lose their third successive game.

“Asking players to do things, they’re not responding at the minute so it’s a case of back to the blackboard I think.

“Second half all I said to them was put the ball in corners but didn’t lift the ball at all did we?”

But Tompkins wants to win every game they can, especially in the marathon Kent League Cup competition.

“Every cup game we’re in we are taking it seriously,” he said. “We’re not going to win the league so every cup we are in we have to take it seriously to do well in and keep our season alive.”

Reflecting on their FA Vase exit at the hands of Essex League side Romford, Tompkins did not enjoy his side’s first half performance.

“First half (they were) far better side than us,” he admitted. “Second half we hammered them.

“Three-nil down looked it would be five or six but we spun it round and could have been 6-3 to us in the end.

“So in the end I was disappointed. First half we were no where near them but second half we ruined them.”

Erith Town welcome newcomers Faversham Town to the Erith Sports Stadium on Saturday, and Tompkins demands a positive reaction from his side.

“It’s how we respond from tonight,” he said. “I’ve had a little go at them in there, saying “what are you going to do now boys?”

He added: “We’ve got to stand up and be counted. Got to have a few geezers wrapped round me.

“We can’t lose games like this and fold. We’ve got to be positive again Saturday and get out of this little rut we’re in.”

But Tompkins’ hands are tied because his club don’t have a playing budget.

“One thing I won’t do in the changing rooms is say “look boys I have to turn it around and get other players in,” because it just isn’t like that.

“It’s a case of working with the boys you’ve’ got, going through the youth team, looking at the reserves.

“I told the chairman when I took the job it won’t be a magic wand. It may take a year, two season’s for me to build a side.”

But Tompkins feels teams that have playing budgets can attract a better calibre of player.

“If you get a wage bill you can ring a player up and then say to him “this is what I can offer you.”

“When you’ve got nothing it’s hard to ring a player up. The first thing they do now in non-league football is say “how much you’re going to give me?”

He added: “I don’t knock a player for that. If you can get a pound note you get a pound note.”

Visit Club websites:

www.erithtownfootballclub.co.uk

www.favershamtownfc.co.uk