McKimm aggrieved as lacklustre Angels miss play-offs

Tonbridge

Angry Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm will keep his players waiting for answers about their futures after Angels failed to make the play-offs. Monday’s 1- 0 defeat to Kent rivals Folkestone ended their hopes of a top-five finish and their lethargic display left McKimm fuming. He questioned his players’ commitment to the club after the game, asking who wanted to be at Longmead next season and revealed Nick Wheeler, Luke Allen and Ugo Udoji only “gave it a 50-50” while most others put their hands up. McKimm said: “That’s been coming a while. If they all want to do their own thing that’s great but what I can’t stomach is keeping us dangling on a bit of string, thinking we’ll jump at the chance if it helps them. “It’s got to help the club, not them. They’re barking up the wrong tree with me. It’s going to be two weeks before anything happens in terms of what I’m going to do. “If people want answers now, they’re not going to get them. They’ll get them when I’m good and ready. “If it’s too late for them and they have to look elsewhere, that’s up to them.” Tonbridge made a flying start in the Ryman League, Premier Division and although their form dipped mid-season, started April back in the top five. Nathan Elder’s goal was enough to beat AFC Sudbury 1- 0 on Saturday and a win at Folkestone would have kept them within a point of the play-offs but Nat Blanks ended their season prematurely. McKimm said: “I’m disappointed that we didn’t show enough fight to get in the play-offs. When an opportunity was there for us, we didn’t show enough. “We haven’t been good for the last six-eight weeks. You pin all your hopes on preparing them right and hoping they’ll throw everything at it, knowing what was at stake. “Unfortunately, only a couple of them did. We can only pick a side and they’ve got to produce the goods. We put our faith in them and a lot of people felt annoyed that they didn’t give it a massive go. “Three or four of them came out with credit but the rest were non-existent.” Injuries to key players hurt Tonbridge badly this season. McKimm said: “When you’ve got people like Tommy Whitnell, George Beavan, Tom Parkinson and Andre McCollin out of your side, any team would suffer. “Those players are all winners, they put their bodies on the line and when you’ve got that crop missing, it’s a big miss. “I’ll start looking at where I’m going to make us stronger, where I feel we need changing. “I’m going to take a week or two to take stock of what’s gone wrong, look at myself and then start addressing the issues.” Angels end the season at home to Worthing on Saturday.