Big-spending Billericay are at it again...
BIG-SPENDING Billericay Town have landed yet another transfer coup after signing former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
It is the second highprofile arrival in recent weeks at the ambitious Ryman Premier club following the signing of former England international Paul Konchesky earlier this month.
The squad has undergone an-almost total revamp – 13 players have been signed since the start of December – following the arrival of ambitious new millionaire owner Glenn Tamplin late last year. The club’s wage bill is now understood to be close to £20,000-a-week.
O’Hara, fresh from appearing on TV’s
has not played since leaving League One Gillingham at the start of the season due to injury. He was persuaded to join Billericay by reality TV star Mark Wright, who is a close friend of Tamplin’s.
While money is clearly a factor, O’Hara says the opportunity to play football again after a long absence was too good to turn down.
“I was at home, not playing and obviously went on a TV show so this season looked as if it was over in terms of playing football,” O’Hara told in the table, and still have a realistic chance of reaching the play-offs. They sit just five points outside the top five having won seven of their last ten league games.
Tamplin has appointed himself manager for the promotion push following the resignation of former boss Craig Edwards in February over what he called “broken promises”.
“That [promotion] was the main reason I’ve come here,” O’Hara said. “That’s why Glenn asked me if I could come in straightaway because obviously we’ve got some big games coming up. Hopefully we can get some good results and reach the play-offs.”
As to the future, O’Hara wants to get back to the professional game as soon as he can. He has a contract with Billericay for next season, but it contains a clause which will allow him to leave should a League One club or higher make an offer.
“I’ve got a contract for next season,” said O’Hara. “I’m going to be involved in the club, particularly now, and maybe next season as well. Obviously I want to play at the highest level like any footballer, so if things go well we’ll see what happens. But at the moment, Billericay is where I am and I’m looking to do as well as I can for the club and the owner.” Tamplin maintains his commitment to the club is a long-term one and that his ambition is to eventually reach the Football League. Whatever happens in the future, for now, the signings of Konchesky and O’Hara have put Billericay firmly back on the
map.