Plans in place for Otford United and Hawkinge Town to progress from the Kent County League Premier

OTFORD UNITED manager Ricky Tompkins says there is a plan in place at the club to gain promotion into the Southern Counties East Football League First Division.

The O’s claimed the local bragging rights after thrashing ten-man Crockenhill 7-1 on Wednesday night and are now in the bottom five with eight points from eight games, leaving Steve Aldridge’s side in the bottom two with five points from their seven games.

Tompkins takes his side to eighth-placed side Peckham Town tomorrow with his side’s morale quite high after their win over Crockenhill.

Otford raced into a 4-0 lead going into half-time courtesy of Artur Lechowicz opening the floodgates inside four-minutes and striker Harry Brown scoring a hat-trick.

Toyeeb Babatunde came off the bench in the 61^st minute and scored a hat-trick with Crockenhill pulling a goal back at 6-0 down through Alex Quartson-Aidoo.

Otford United play at the picturesque Otford Recreation Ground on the High Street and with a pavilion and four floodlights at the venue, there are serious plans to progress.

“It’s a bit different this time because I’m not player-manager this time but it’s nice to be back,” said Tompkins.

“It’s a lovely club, the settings, the area, the people around the club are good and I’ve got to a good management team on board this time, so it feels good, it’s nice to be back in control of them.

“When I came the first time, what a lot of people don’t know was that I got promotion first year and I sort of said to them the team that I’ve got I’ll be looking to push on again and I felt there’s not many times I’d say that and sort of think not being big-headed but a little bit arrogant in that because I felt the side I had was a good side and the togetherness was unbelievable.

“The club wasn’t in the right state of mind then to move forward. They’ve just revamped the junior section and it has become as one with the senior section.

“There’s a new chairman on board and a whole new board so that’s what they’re looking to do. There is a plan in place to try to push on with that so if that’s the case and if it all goes to plan, that’s what I’ll be looking to do with them, exciting times.”

Meanwhile, Hawkinge Town manager Scott Porter has signed centre-half Rob Gillman, 36, from Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Welling Town.

Porter, who has previously managed Isthmian League South East Division side Hythe Town, has high hopes for his home-town club, currently in sixth-place in the table just three points behind the leaders Kings Hill.

"The project at Hawkinge is perfect for me.  We are looking to get up the leagues and it's on my doorstep," said Porter.

"Plans are good for next season regarding the ground, changing rooms and bar are better than most SCEFL clubs and it's a work in progress."