Tonbridge bosses talk to the fans

Tonbridge Angels manager Tony Dolby has revealed that his chairman is giving him more funds for players than what was agreed at the start of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dolby, club chairman Mr Nick Sullivan, and secretary Mr Charlie Cole answered a whole host of questions from fans at last night’s “Meet the Manager” session inside the Longmead Lounge at their Betterview Longmead Stadium home.

Sixteen fans tuned up at the event, which lasted two and a half hours, and the trio were very honest when quizzed on a whole host of subjects.

Dolby told fans last night: “I’m getting more than the agreed amount in the summer but I wouldn’t dream for any more.”

But Dolby knows that he has to work with his current squad as the club don’t have the purse strings like some of their Ryman Premier League rivals to bring in new players.

The 32-year-old manager added: “If we lost quality players through injuries or suspensions they are so hard to replace. We do feel the effects, it is difficult when you lose your top players.”

With the club sitting in eighth place in the Ryman Premier League table - just three points off top spot - the club’s aim for the season is stabilising themselves in the division.

Mr Sullivan insisted: “The club is stability, to stay in this league. We have given Tony Dolby a budget we can afford an progress is to stop being a yo-yo club.

“I’m here as a caretaker until someone comes is and takes us to another level.

“We need people with big pockets, like Margate, Chelmsford and Bromley, but we’re not there yet.”

Since the start of last season there has been a feel-good factor surrounding the west Kent club, which culminated with promotion into the Ryman Premier League following their play-off final win over Dover Athletic in May.

Just six months later the club reached the FA Cup fourth qualifying round for the first time in fifteen years, but Newport County scored the only goal of the game to progress.

And the club are performing above their own expectations and have the ability to mix it on the pitch with the clubs that are splashing the cash.

Dolby told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after last night’s meeting: “I think the stats from the games we’ve played are very promising.

“I think the teams at the bottom are quite far adrift so in that respect its obviously positive and we don’t necessarily have to look over our shoulder at the moment.

“We can concentrate on us and take each game as it comes.”

And Dolby is relishing their trip to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, especially as they knocked his side out of the FA Trophy just two weeks ago.

They will be without the services of Scott Gooding and Robert Kember, although Luke Piscina, John Beales and Jon Heath are both expected to be fit for the trip to Kingsmeadow.

But Dolby’s men are more than capable of picking up points against a side that have conceded just five goals in their 12 games and are one place below the Angels.

“Obviously we want to win,” said Dolby. “We know what their about, they know what we’re about and we’ll go there full of confidence.

“Our record at the moment is won 7, drawn 3 and lost 3, which is great and something to build on and that’s what we’ll be looking to do on Saturday.

“If we can get a strong squad as possible as we can out there then we’ve got a great chance to get a result there.”

In the past seven days, Dolby’s men have shared the points with Boreham Wood and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

But the Angels were 2-0 up at Hampton in midweek, with goals from a revitalised Fraser Logan and Jon Main’s 16^th goal of the season, but had to settle for a point as he hosts netted a late leveller.

“I think the two performances I’m not displeased about,” recalled Dolby. “Obviously I’d like to have got a win and a loss in hindsight because it’s one extra point, but a 92^nd equaliser plus the fact that Boreham Wood are a good side I think the two results aren’t too bad.”

Dolby was pleased that last night’s meeting was arranged but he emphasised that he is always approachable, and he said: “Thoroughly enjoyable and quite informative I hope for the fans and I hope they took away everything they came to get out of it.”