Wings are in safe hands

FORMER WINGS manager Paul Parker insists Welling United are in safe hands with Adrian Pennock at the helm at the Park View Road club, writes Stephen McCartney.

Writing in his column in the Kentish Times Newspaper, Parker said: "Adrian Pennock has done very well since joining them as their manager.

"Initially, he needed to get his feet under the table at Park View Road and he has obviously seen what he liked and what he did not particular like and has brought in a few new faces.

"They've done very well but he knows at this moment in time that they are still not safe and with a couple of bad results, things could change.

"They are in 15th place but it is still possible to go up or down from there.  They've got 43 points an the relegation strugglers have got 37.

"But they are in a darn sight better position now than when I left.  I would have to say that they've done very well to dig themselves out.  I felt as if maybe the team should have done better, but feeling the team should have done better is a bit different from the team actually doing better so Adrian has done very well.

"He has had a good grounding with his playing career, was assistant manager at Gravesend & Northfleet and he has a good coach in Phil Handford.  That partnership is working well for him and I hope long may it continue."

Meanwhile, 16-year-old striker Omone Sodje got his Welling career of to a great start on Saturday, scoring within three minutes of his debut.

Although his side lost 3-2 to St Albans City at Park View Road, the striker, who comes to Welling on work experience from the Charlton Athletic academy, comes highly recommended by the Premiership coaching staff.

Pennock added: "He comes highly recommended through Mark Robson and Keith Peacock.  He's a young lad and that will help him as well with the experience playing men's football.  He trained with us last Wednesday and he looked really good so I am very excited seeing him play."

Pennock thanks their Premiership neighbours for allowing the teenage star to play for the Nationwide Conference South club.  He said: "Keith Peacock at Charlton rates him highly.  Obviously the close connections between Welling and Charlton has helped me a lot.

"Omone is strong, he's really good in the air for a small lad and importantly he's quick and he can finish and has got a very good footballing brain for his age."

WATCH THE WINGS THIS EASTER

Cambridge City v Welling United                        Welling United v Basingstoke Town
Nationwide Conference South                            Nationwide Conference South
Saturday 26th March 2005                                   Monday 28th March 2005
Kick Off 1:00pm                                                   Kick Off 3:00pm
at City Ground, Milton Road, Cambridge            at Park View Road, Welling