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Richard Styles set to target several of his old players after leaving Lordswood for Tunbridge Wells

Richard Styles is likely to take some Lordswood players with him to Tunbridge Wells.

Styles was named Wells' new manager on Tuesday morning after ending his three-year spell in charge at Martyn Grove the night before.

Assistant manager Dan Morrin and coach Luke Carpenter have joined him at the Culverden and certain players could too.

Ex-Lordswood manager Richard Styles Picture: Steve Crispe
Ex-Lordswood manager Richard Styles Picture: Steve Crispe

Styles said: "Nothing's set in stone but there's a few that will possibly follow.

"It won't be a case of picking up every single player because I don't want to leave Lordswood in the lurch.

"I've been on the other end of that when I took over at Lordswood and had no players."

Styles was already preparing for next season at Lordswood when the Wells job came up.

Lords have had more success on the pitch over the past couple of years, finishing eighth and 10th compared to 15th and 16th for Wells, but Styles knows he's joining one of the bigger clubs in the league.

He said: "Things were in motion for next season and I wasn't openly looking to leave Lordswood but then the Tunbridge Wells job came up.

"I had a chat with the chairman there, which went really well, and at that point I had to speak to Lordswood because I have morals and that's where my loyalty was.

"I had that conversation on Monday night and the club just couldn't give any more.

"No disrespect, because they've given absolutely everything, but it made my mind up.

"It was always going to be a tough decision to leave Lordswood because I've got all the time in the world for everyone there and I can't thank them enough for the giving me the opportunity to be a manager but it's the right time to move on.

"Club-wise, with the structure and the following, Tunbridge Wells are a bigger club but on the pitch Lordswood have been a better team over the last couple of years.

"It's my job to go in there and improve things.

"There's more pressure on me and it's up to me to deliver but I'm confident I can do that.

"The first thing is to improve on last season and then push the following year.

"It's not going to happen overnight. It's a journey, a vision and we need to be patient."

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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