Steve McKimm says Tonbridge are going places - whoever’s in charge down the line.

McKimm is one of the longest-serving managers in the country after almost eight years at Longmead.

He loves his job but knows nothing lasts for ever, whether he’s sacked or decides to move on.

With plans to install a 3G pitch this summer and a squad that’s won plenty of admirers, things are looking up for the Angels as they bid to secure National South status and kick on.

“With the people behind the scenes and the projects they’ve got going on, whether it’s with me or someone else, this club’s going places in the next few years,” said McKimm.

“When that does happen, people will sit up, look and think, ‘OK, he was right in what he said.’

“The club’s going to be in a good place.

“The fanbase is always going to be 500-600 and now it’s getting more and if they continue doing that, it’s only going to benefit the football club and they’ll start seeing the rewards from that.”

McKimm succeeded Tommy Warrilow in the summer of 2014, following Tonbridge’s relegation to the Isthmian Premier.

After a difficult first season as the club regrouped, it’s been progress all the way under McKimm, but he’s also a realist and knows he won’t be in charge for ever.

“When I first came in, it was a case of just getting them up and we almost got relegated in the first season,” said the Angels boss.

“We eventually got up, we stayed up, but we haven’t had a full season in this league (because of Covid), or I haven’t had a full season managing in this league.

“This will be the first one, touch wood nothing happens and we stay in the league, and that’s an achievement, then we move on next year for new goals.

“People had their own goals but we knew we had to stay in this league this year with the proposal of a new pitch.

“Not that it wouldn’t happen if we went down, but in this league with the 3G pitch it’s going to make a massive difference in terms of the resources for the playing budget, for everything else that goes with the club, a little bit extra can be added.

“All you need is a little bit extra to tweak what we’ve already got and we aren’t far away.

“Of course I want to stay. I’ve been given no indication that it’s not going to happen but I’ve not come into management knowing you’re not going to get sacked.

“It’s like anything, you go into football, there’s always an end.

“You can’t continue something for ever if you want to be successful and that’s whether it’s personal or the club.

“If you’re together in it and you can do it together, great, but there’s always going to be a rocky patch where someone’s doing well and might get head-hunted, or someone’s not doing well and might get kicked out the door.

“You work together but there’s always something in there that either someone wants to do better, whether it’s personally, or the club, and that’s what football management is about.

“Apart from your obvious, your Fergusons and Wengers, and people like that at the elite level, there aren’t many managers who stay at clubs for 10, 15, 20 years.

“They’re few and far between and that’s because it’s a results business and to get punters through the door you’ve got to win games.

“You don’t win games, the crowds dwindle, then you don’t get any funding.

“So my job is to get the team out there to win games and it’s a bright future providing everything goes ahead that’s planned.”

Tonbridge visit Hampton & Richmond tomorrow.