We're taking Tonbridge Angels to another level, says ambitious chairman - EXCLUSIVE

TONBRIDGE ANGELS chairman Nick Sullivan believes the progressive club will be vying for Ryman Premier League glory next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mr Sullivan, who played professionally as a goalkeeper for Arsenal, says the forthcoming campaign will be the “most important” one for the west Kent club.

Manager Tommy Warrilow has already made five summer signings on two-year contracts and aspirations are as high as they’ve ever been at Longmead Stadium.

Promotion into the Blue Square South is high on the agenda.

Warrilow, who arrived at the club from Horsham last November has transformed the club, making changes to team personnel and taking the club from second-from-bottom to the edge of the play-off’s.

And with vice-chairman Garry Pass splashing out £100,000 on ground improvements, including installing 660 seats to take the ground up to Blue Square South standard, Mr Sullivan believes it’s time to take the club to the next level.

But he was quick to point out that Warrilow will have the same budget at his disposal as he had at the end of the season just ended.

“I think it’s the most important season for the club,” Mr Sullivan said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“We’ve got to take heart from last season, that’s the benchmark now, the second half of the season.

“I’d like to think we’d be there or there abouts. We would want to be pushing for a play-off place, everything’s in place, the work on the ground, 660 new seats are going in, the pitch is going down, next season is the most important for the club for a long time.”

Warrilow has brought in goalkeeper Lee Worgan, midfielder Tim Olorunda and striker Ade Olorunda from rivals Hastings United as well as striker Jamie Cade and central defender Leon Legge from Lewes, a side that clinched promotion into the Blue Square Premier last month.

Highly-rated defender John Beales, 23, is on trial with Bristol Rovers in pre-season and is expected to join goalkeeper Matt Reed, striker Akwasi Edusei and the versatile skipper Ray Powell out the door.

But Tonbridge Angels will welcome Beales back to the club if his dream of playing professional football collapses.

Mr Sullivan said: “He’s refused all the contracts we’ve offered him. We’ve been talking to him for ages. I can understand it, if I was in his situation I’d do the same.

“He’s going to Bristol Rovers for a month’s trial in pre-season and we’ll see what happens.

“As he’s under 24, we’ve got him on a Bosman so a transfer fee will be involved with Bristol Rovers or someone else.

“If it doesn’t work out for him, we’d welcome him back with welcoming arms. What we’ve done is built the squad with him going.”

Mr Sullivan believes the likes of Staines Town, Billericay Town, AFC Hornchurch and Dover Athletic will be challenging his side for the top spot.

But when asked whether Warrilow’s warriors will win the title outright, the chairman replied: “We’re going to give it our best shot mate.

“I’ve got faith in Tommy Warrilow. He will go on to bigger and better clubs than Tonbridge Angels. We’re delighted to have him for two more years. Gary and I and Tommy together are trying to push it as far as we can.”

The chairman issues a rallying cry to the local people to boost the club’s average gates to at least 600.

He said: “Our gates again went up last season and the type of football that we were playing, I’d like to think we’d get a lot more people watching us. Our football deserves bigger gates. We need more people from Tonbridge to come out and support the club.

“It’s all geared up, Tommy’s got the squad, Gary’s sorting out the stadium stuff and the three of us together have one aim and that is to try to get the club promoted next season. It will be tough, but all we can do is give it our best shot.”

But whilst things look rosy on the pitch, Mr Sullivan criticised “a small minority” of supporters who use internet fans’ forums to write negativity.

“I’m just hugely disappointed with a small minority of our fans who don’t understand what’s gone on and what’s going on,” he fumed.

“Three years ago, when I took over, the club was in debt, we owed money, we we’re going backwards and now we’ve just had three very successful years and with Gary Pass getting involved the club is pushing on again.

“It’s a small minority on the forum who don’t have the balls to front Garry and I, hiding behind fictitious names.

“Garry and I are so approachable, we’ve had the questions and answers night and we spoke about ambition and where we want to be.

“Garry has put in a lot of money putting the seats in and what do they want? To go backwards?

“We have to keep moving forward and chipping away. There’s too many good people at the club undermined by a few idiots basically.

“We’re approachable, we don’t hide, we’ve got nothing to hide behind.

“I found it very, very off-putting that a few of them can’t see what we’re trying to achieve.

“The club could have easily gone back to the Kent League but a lot of people have dragged the club forward.

“It’s a nice club but some people want to stay where it is.”

Goalkeeper Sullivan, meanwhile, ruptured his quadriceps tendon and dislocated his kneecap whilst playing for Arsenal’s veterans side against the Gunners’ supporters two weeks ago at the club’s Emirates Stadium. Currently on crutches and his knee in a brace, the Angels chairman is expected to be out of action for a period of between six to eight weeks.

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