I leave Tonbridge with a heavy heart, says Dolby

Tony Dolby has broken his silence following his departure from Tonbridge Angels on Monday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dolby, 33, reflected on the good – and bad – times at Longmead Stadium, after his three and a half years in the hot-seat came to an end.

The west Kent club decided to part company with Dolby and his assistant Mike Rutherford, following their 3-1 FA Cup fourth qualifying round defeat at Ware last weekend.

Greenwich-born Dolby paid the price after the club were sitting in the bottom four in the Ryman Premier League table, having bagged three wins and two draws from their first eleven games.

Caretakers Julian Leigh, 51, and Simon Balsdon, the club's reserve team management duo, took charge of Tuesday’s night’s 2-1 defeat at AFC Hornchurch – a result that leaves the club in the bottom two.

But Dolby told www.kentishfootball.co.uk, in a statement this afternoon: "Firstly I would like to thank everybody associated with Tonbridge Angels for making my first managerial job an enjoyable one.

"I have some really good memories to take with me and wish the club all the success in the world.

"I am leaving with a heavy heart but know that I have given it 100% from day one and there are no regrets from my part.

"Of course there are going to be ups and downs at all clubs but I have relished the challenge of the downs as well as the euphoria of the ups.

"I will never be able to fully explain the feeling of beating Dover Athletic in the play-off final in front of our own fans or the disappointment of losing at Harrow Borough when we were relegated but such is the game we all love."

The Angels have yet appointed his successor, but Dolby added: "The new manager who comes in inherits a great group of lads with tremendous ability and with a couple of minor adjustments I am sure will climb the league and make a real go for it this season.

"I will always follow with great interest the fortunes of the club and will endeavour to keep in touch with many of the personnel from within, what is a very good non-league football club."

During his time at Tonbridge, Dolby suffered relegation from the Ryman Premier, promotion, via the play-off’s, at the first attempt, two FA Cup fourth qualifying round appearances, and a Kent Senior Cup final.

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ websites: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk & www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum