STEVE MCKIMM put pen to paper on a deal to stay on as manager of Tonbridge Angels – but then promptly waved goodbye to two more of his star players!
Picture: Alamy
The Angels boss was rewarded for his efforts in keeping the club in National League North by signing a deal – along with assistant Barry Moore – to extend his seven-year stay at Longmead.
But his first job in his extended role was to bid farewell to popular pair Jack Parter and Khale da Costa left for pastures new this week – just days after star man D’Sean Theobalds quit to seek a career abroad.
McKimm took over at Longmead back in May 2014, following the club’s relegation from Conference South the previous season.
Moore joined him soon after and the pair built a new squad from scratch, winning promotion back to Non- League’s second tier via the Super Play-Offs in 2019, while also taking the club to the FA Cup first round for the first time since 1972.
Chairman Dave Netherstreet said: “We believe that Steve and Barry are the pair to help us achieve success. Given the challenges of running a semi-professional club, they have done brilliantly over the last seven years and we believe that success can continue and grow.”
Left-back Parter is to leave the Angels to find a club nearer to where he lives in East Kent. One of McKimm’s earliest recruits, he clocked up 274 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.
Midfield ace Da Costa, meanwhile, announced he too would not be re-joining the squad for 2021-22 as he looked to pursue a career in the full-time game.
Urging Angels fans not to press the panic button, McKimm said: “I would’ve kept both Khale and Jack but they wished to go and I wouldn’t stand in their way.
“What is a little unusual this time around is, because of the disruption of last season, it’s all happening quite a bit earlier than normal. We would normally still be very much in the throes of the campaign right now.
“I am in talks with the rest of the squad right now with regard to next season and of course recruiting as appropriate is very much at the forefront of both Barry’s and my mind. But we never rush into decisions as it requires careful thought and evaluation.”
■ BOSS David Lynch reckons he has made a “massive addition” to his Clitheroe squad in the shape of striker Sefton Gonzales.
Lynch played alongside Gonzales, 29, at Clitheroe five years ago, while also partnering current first-team coach Louis Mayers.
The forward joins from Ramsbottom United, and has previously featured for Matlock Town, South Shields and FC United of Manchester.
Lynch said: “He’s a massive addition. Louis and I know Sefton inside out.”
■ OSSETT United boss Wayne Benn say she is “very excited” by the arrival of vastly experienced Mark Smith as the club’s new first-team coach.
Smith, 61, made more than 500 Football League appearances across a 17-year playing career, as well as taking the role of caretaker manager at Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield.
Benn said: “Bringing in someone like Mark will set the tone from the very beginning of our new campaign.
“He has some great ideas and his CV speaks for itself. Very exciting to get to work.”
■ JAY Saunders has added highly-rated Tonbridge Angels striker Ben Greenhalgh to his Margate squad.
Greenhalgh made 16 appearances for National League South Angels last season, scoring three goals.
But Saunders has also confirmed that five players are set to leave the club.
Liam Friend, Freddie Moncur, Reece Prest-edge, John Ufuah and Jay Porter will all be leaving the Isthmian Premier Division side.
■ KING’S Lynn Town boss Ian Culver-house has pulled in another favour to sign former Derby County midfielder Alex Babos.
Babos, 22, left the Rams last summer and has more recently been with Alfreton Town.
He has also played for FC United of Manchester and represented Wales at Under 21 level, making his debut in a European Championship game against Liechtenstein.
Babos joins the Linnets – who have furloughed a number of first-team players – until the end of the season.
■ ALEX ADDAI say she is ready to “make some noise” at Solihull Moors.
The 27-year-old has joined Mark Yates ‘Moors on loan from Cheltenham Town until May 5.
The former Tottenham youngster has had previous spells at Carshalton, Whitehawk, Kingstonian and Maidenhead United.
He said: “I’ve heard a lot about the club, it’s been making a lot of noise for a long time – I’m excited and happy to join in.
“The team are on an excellent run at the minute so hopefully I can help get us as high up as possible.”
■ THREE is still the magic number for Highworth Town, who have kept on their management trio of Ross Adams, Jon Fisher and Kevin Maloney for another season.
The management trio have been in charge of the Pitching In Southern League Division One South Worthians since December 2019 following the resignation of manager Jeff Roberts.
They led the side to a creditable eighth place in the table when the season at Step 4 was curtailed.
