Dolby makes double signing - EXCLUSIVE

Tonbridge Angels’ player-manager Tony Dolby has today unveiled a double signing as he prepares the club for their Ryman Premier League return, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dolby’s side clinched promotion from division one at the first attempt via the lottery of the play-off’s earlier in the month.

Wins over Tooting & Mitcham United (2-0) and Dover Athletic (3-2) earned the Betterview Longmead Stadium club promotion, having finished their 44-match campaign in third place and joined Ramsgate and Horsham, who went up automatically, in the top-flight of Ryman League football.

Dolby has revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today that he has signed right-back Scott Gooding, 25, from Nationwide Conference neighbours Gravesend & Northfleet and central midfielder, Scott Kinch from managerless side Tooting & Mitcham United.

Gooding, who was one of eleven players to be released by the Stonebridge Road club, began his career as a trainee at Crystal Palace before moving into non-league football with Whyteleafe.

In 2003 he found his way to then big-spending Hornchurch, where as a full time player, he became a regular member in the team.

At the demise of the Essex side he moved to Crawley Town in the Nationwide Conference where he spent a couple of months before becoming the Liam Daish’s first full-time signing at Stonebridge Road.

Dolby explained why he’s signed Gooding. “Because he’s a quality player really,” he replied. “He has been a full-time player at Gravesend, he’s going to have the fitness levels required for this standard.

“I tried to sign him last year when he was at Hornchurch but he went to Gravesend, which was very attractive for him.

“He’s 25, which is a perfect age to be honest and ideal for us.”

Dolby admitted he was impressed with Kinch, a tall central midfielder, when his side met the Terrors on three occasions last season.

Kinch, who signed for Tooting & Mitcham United from Carshalton Athletic in August 2003, was sent off when the two sides last met - the play-off semi-final, which Dolby’s side won 2-0 thanks to two clinical strikes from Jon Main and Nick Barnes.

With 15 minutes remaining, Main poked the ball for Barnes to burst through the middle of the pitch - starting his run from the half-way line - but the midfielder was on the end of a deliberate foul by Kinch and Oxfordshire referee Mr John Farriers had no option but to show his second red card of the match, having earlier sent off Angels’ star Ray Powell.

Speaking about signing Kinch, whose scored 33 goals from over 100 appearances for the Surrey side, Dolby said: “All three times we’ve played against Tooting I was very impressed.”

“He’s got the right attributes for the Ryman Premier League and he’s a big asset and will do well for us.”

Meanwhile, Angels’ play-off victory over the Terrors has cost their manager Richard Cadette his job at Imperial Fields.

At a board meeting on 18^th May, a statement issued by Alan Simpson, chairman of Tooting & Mitcham Members Ltd, said: “It was agreed to terminate the employment of Richard Cadette as football manager and seek to find a new manager for the 2006/07 season.

“It was felt by the board that Richard, who had been in charge since November 2002, had taken us as far as he possibly could and that a new manager would be needed to take us to the next level (step 3) and beyond.

“The board would like to thank Richard and his coaching staff for all their work and effort over the last three and a half years and wish them all well for the future.

“The board are going to advertise the position in this weeks Non League Paper and the closing date for applications will be June 6th 2006.”

Former Bromley boss George Wakeling is expected to apply for the vacancy at Imperial Fields.