Warrilow hits back at rival's budgetary claims

Thursday 03rd September 2009

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow has tonight rubbished claims made by Maidstone United joint-manager Lloyd Hume, who said that Angels’ strikers Carl Rook, Paul Booth and Jamie Cade cost the same amount as half of the Stones’ weekly playing budget, writes Stephen McCartney.

The trio have scored eight goals between them in the first six games of the season, and Angels’ five-match unbeaten run has taken Warrilow’s side in third place in the Ryman Premier League table.

Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk earlier today, “They’ve got a very strong side. Their budget completely dwarfs our budget.

“I’d love to have Tonbridge’s three up front, with the money that they’ve got for them. I was talking to our chairman on Saturday and when you look at the fact that Tonbridge have Rookie, Boothy and Cade up front, the three of them are pretty much half our budget and I would to have any one of those three in my starting eleven on Saturday.”

But Warrilow, also speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk later this evening, rubbished such claims.

“That’s where I’ve spent my money,” he said. “I’m the same as a lot of teams this year, I’ve only got 12 players and obviously I’ve invested heavily in the firepower.”

But on Hume’s claims, Warrilow laughed and replied, “That’s wrong! Lloyd should talk about his own budget - not mine!

“He doesn’t have a clue what my budget is! I’m in the same boat as Maidstone so there’s no hidden agendas.

“I’ve got 12 players signed on and the rest are made up off kids, and all my boys took big pay cuts to stay with us this year, so full credit to them to stay with the club, when they were getting more money offered elsewhere.

“Maidstone are in the same boat as us. I speak to Walks (Alan Walker) a lot and we both know where we both stand regarding finances, that’s why it’s ridiculous what Lloyd has been saying.”

It would be fair to say that Tonbridge Angels fans always look forward to their two league games against their bitter rivals.

And Warrilow said: “I’m confident going into every game. I know the feeling and the mood of the supporters going into the game.

“I said from day one, if we beat Maidstone, great. It’s important we have to move on to the next game and win that one. There’s no point jumping up and down beating Maidstone United and losing the next three or four games.

“It’s another Ryman Premier League game. Yes, I know it’s a local derby, but if we win, great. We move onto the next game.

“I’m not going to build it up as a must-win game, turning points. It’s a game I think we’re capable of winning. By the time the (final) whistle goes, I’ll be more concerned about the next game coming up.”

A run of five-unbeaten games has seen the club rise to third place in the table - but Warrilow isn’t getting carried away just yet.

“I’m obviously delighted, but at the same time if I’m third in the table after another 20 games, I’d be even more delighted,” he said.

“It’s so tight, it is nice to be up there, but by no means am I getting carried away with it. It’s nice to see us third and all I’m trying to remain as close as possible to the team that’s sitting at the top.

When asked whether his side can stay there, Warrilow replied, “It’s a big ask with 12 players. We haven’t got the strength-in-depth this season. I’m trying to keep everyone suspension free and at the new year we’ll have a look at it.

“Six games is miles too early to say we’ll do play-off’s or top half or whatever.”

Warrilow explained that when he speaks about 12 players he means players with experience of this level of football - not the youngsters that have been drafted in from the youth and reserve team ranks.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match.

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Visit Tonbridge Angels website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Maidstone United v Tonbridge Angels

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 5th September 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ