Tunbridge Wells boss Jason Bourne: If I can motivate any players to enjoy their football again, put smiles on faces then we will move up the league and be in a good place come Christmas

TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ newly-appointed manager Jason Bourne says he wants to put smiles on people’s faces.

The club appointed former Cray Wanderers boss Keith Bird as their new manager on 3 July, but parted company with him on 26 November.

Bourne was Bird’s assistant manager and the club decided to appoint the long-serving club stalwart into the hot seat.

Bourne’s first game in charge of his home-town club was yesterday, but Rochester United came away from Culverden Stadium with a 2-1 win.

Joe Nwoko scored on his Tunbridge Wells debut, having signed from league rivals Cray Valley, but Matt Hume’s side took the points.

“It has been a very busy couple of weeks, not only shaping my side in terms of personnel but the way we play,” said Bourne.

“I have been very fortunate to put together a very experienced and professional back room staff with Mark Stapley as my number two, Michal Czanner as goalkeeping coach.

“We have also added Jamie Leggett as first team coach. It not only brings in a very good young coach but a great lad that knows the league and surrounding leagues inside out.”

Tonbridge-based coach Hugo Langton, who spent a couple of highly-successful seasons at Bromley, helping Mark Goldberg’s side finish in third-place and champions in the Conference South, is putting on coaching sessions at Tunbridge Wells while he looks for employment, having parted company at Hayes Lane a couple of days before the start of this season, the Ravens first in the Vanarama National League.

Bourne said: “Hugo Langton has pledged his assistance in hosting sessions whilst looking for a new role and is a breath of fresh air on the training ground.

“On the pitch we have had a few in and a few out with Joe Nwoko joining from Cray Valley and Scott Whibley on loan (from Ryman League Division One North side Phoenix Sports), which will shore us up at the back and really bring on Ollie Cooke, who is an exciting young centre half and will benefit by being around him.

“I want to develop the young players coming through at the club and build the club around that.”

Tunbridge Wells are sitting in a disappointing 12^th place in the Southern Counties East Football League table, having won four, drawn there and lost eight of their league games.

The Wells are 20 points adrift of league leaders, Gillingham-based outfit Hollands & Blair.

“There is silly money flying around this level of football and must bring players through rather than paying through the nose,” said Bourne.

“If I can motivate any players to enjoy their football again, put smiles on faces then we will move up the league and be in a good place come Christmas.”

Fisher – who host Ryman Premier Leaguers Wingate & Finchley to Champion Hill Stadium in the London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) on Monday night – travel to Culverden Stadium on Saturday.

The game has been switched to Culverden Stadium owing to landlords Dulwich Hamlet’s home FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round tie against league rivals VCD Athletic, struggling at the foot of the Ryman Premier League table.

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.com