Good business sense by Dover in three for one deal
DOVER ATHLETIC have completed the treble - securing the
services of THREE new players in one swoop, writes Justin Allen.
Former River End favourites Tony Browne, Lee Spiller and Tommy
Tyne are all rejoining the club after one season at Welling United and
complete manager Clive Walker's signings for next season.
Going in the opposite direction as part of the deal is winger
Matt Carruthers.
Chairman Jim Parmenter will be holding a press conference at
Crabble at 11am this morning where defender Browne and midfielder
Spiller will sign two-year contracts. Tyne will also sign once he returns from
his holiday after also agreeing to the same deal.
Tyne, 24, and Browne, 28, both played for Whites in the
Nationwide Conference and, along with Spiller, 26, were part of Clive's team
that reached the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in the club's
history and finished third in the Dr Martens League Premier Division in
2002-03.
Parmenter said: "These three players were top of Clive's
summer transfer targets and we're delighted to have secured their services for
next season.
"They want to work hard for this club and help us achieve
our target of winning the Ryman League Division One title next season and to
then get us promoted the following season into Conference South. They have the
very qualities Clive and I are looking for and it's a superb boost to what is
already a very talented squad of players.
"We are sorry to see Matt Carruthers leave. Ideally, we'd
have liked to keep him here but we have to stick to a budget. The deal is
fantastic business for Dover Athletic. We get three very good players for one.
It really was a no-brainer and everyone at the club cannot wait for the new
season to start."
Spiller, who used to play for Margate and Gravesend &
Northfleet, was released along with Browne 12 months ago and insists he
was always going to return to Dover once the opportunity presented
itself.
He said: "The three of us never wanted to leave the club
in the first place. Tommy left before the season finished and we were released
in the close season. Mick Kemp, the chairman then, said we had to move on and
that was a shame, because we wanted to stay.
"We cannot believe that the club has dropped down to Ryman
One and desperately want to help the club get back to at least Conference
South.
"One of the main reasons for us wanting to come back is
Clive Walker. He is a top coach and has so much experience, both as a player
and manager. He is a winner and, although we're dropping two leagues to come
here, we believe that Clive can improve us as players.
"It's important the young lads in the squad don't get
complacent. We've got a bit of experience and aim to help the youngsters
through. I think we've got a good mixture of youth and experience in the
side and we're determined to win that Ryman One title next season. We're a
big club and should be playing at a higher level."
Browne cannot wait to renew his special relationship with the Whites
faithful. He has a good rapport with Dover fans and wants to do the business
for them.
He said: "Dover are a huge club and get amazing support.
I've always got on well with the fans here. Hopefully, we can put a few smiles
on their faces by helping the team win enough matches to get promoted.
"I'm going to give 100 per cent to Dover and am really up
for this. There are some good players in Ryman One so it's not going to be
that easy - but if we put in the hard work that Clive demands then we'll have
a very good chance of getting Dover back up the divisions.
"Jim Parmenter has done a good job since returning to the
club and it's important to have a proper businessman running the show. No
disrespect to the former regime, because I'm sure they did their very best,
but the set-up at the club now is much more professional than it was when we
left.
"The chairman is a football man - and understands how
clubs are run. He is ambitious and, with Clive running the team, it's a good
match."
Browne, who is just finishing a three-year sports science
course in South West London, cannot wait to link up with some of his
former team-mates such as Craig Wilkins, Paul Hyde, Craig Cloke, Nicky
Humphrey and co.
He said: "There's definitely a good side there. I
think with me, Lee and Tommy returning, it gives Clive an extra player in
every area of the field. I can't wait to get stuck in."
Welling boss Adrian Pennock said: "These three lads are
players I'm reluctantly letting go. The board have asked me to cut the wage
bill - so I had no choice. I'm just happy to get Matt Carruthers in
exchange, he's a good player - a matchwinner on his day.
"I know Clive very well and we speak regularly. He asked
me a while ago about players and it came up that these lads would be
available - so I enquired about Matt and things moved on from there."
Carruthers, a Whites fan himself, is sorry to be leaving but
is excited by the new challenge of playing for Welling.
He said: "It was a tough decision and the ball ended up
in my court. If I agreed to go, Dover get three players. If I stayed, then
nothing would've happened. So there was a bit of pressure there but I've
thought long and hard about it and decided this is a good deal for all
parties.
"I get a new challenge and play in Conference South,
Dover get three very good new players which will help them win the league
next season and Welling achieve what they want.
"The Dover fans have been great and, who knows, I might
be back one day."
Walker added: "Matt has been a good player for us but this deal was too
good to turn down. I want players at this club that I know will do the
business and, in Lee, Tony and Tommy, we have. It's going to be a
tough season coming up but we now have a very strong squad to cope with
it."
FACTFILES
Tommy Tyne, 24 - Tyne, who played for Kent League side Slade Green
before signing for Millwall, was Dover Athletic's top scorer in season
2002-03 with 11 goals.
Millwall: Feb 1999 - Aug 2001
Fisher Athletic: Feb 2001 - Mar 2001
Dover Athletic: Aug 2001 - Feb 2004
Welling United: Feb 2004 - June 2005
Lee Spiller, 26 - Described as a box to box midfielder
Margate: Aug 1997 - May 2001 (Had a loan spell with Gravesend &
Northfleeet)
Chesham United: Aug 2001 - May 2002
Dover Athletic: May 2002 - May 2004
Welling United: June 2004 - June 2005
Tony Browne, 28 - Experienced defender who is equally at home as a
right-back or sweeper
Brighton & Hove Albion: Oct 1998 - Aug 1999 (Had a loan spell with
Gravesend & Northfleet)
Dover Athletic: Aug 1999 - May 2004
Welling United: June 2004 - June 2005
