Most managers would snap your arm off for Ryman League Division One South’s most potent strike force, but Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson has admitted his front two are giving him one or two headaches.
Bobby Traynor and Carl Wilson-Denis banged in 47 league goals between them as Ks romped to the title last year - a feat celebrated at the league’s awards bash at the weekend.
Dowson, 39, bagged the manager of the year gong - and a bottle of champagne from Met Police boss Jimmy Cooper - and collected the golden boot award on behalf of Traynor during the event.
The Kingsmeadow chief has backed his front two to deliver more of the same next season, but, with Ks youth team star Craig Mullen quitting the club this week to go to university, he has admitted the quality he has up front makes landing adequate back-up next to impossible.
“Craig is a great lad and we wish him well. He has something about him that says to me he has the potential to have a good career in football,” he said.
“We did everything to persuade him to stay because I really thought he would push Bobby and Carl all the way this year.
“They will be in the top three strike pairings in the league this season, which gives me a problem in getting quality players in should they get injured.
“Any good striker is not going to come here if they want to play regular first team football because they know how good they are. It gives us a real problem and I’ve got to get my thinking cap back on.”
Mullen’s departure will disappoint fans concerned at the lack of transfer activity at Kingstonian this summer, although all of last season’s title winning squad have signalled their intention to play Ryman League Premier Division football with Ks next season.
And Dowson, who met with all his players earlier this week, has moved to reassure supporters that while he is looking to strengthen resources - he is expecting to pick up three or four new faces during pre-season - he is not prepared to reveal his targets.
“We haven’t got contracts to throw around so any players we get in will not be on that basis. That means we run the risk of losing out on players we are talking to until the season starts,” he added.
“Everyone has agreed in principle to stay. Dean Lodge is back from holiday and we’ll be speaking with him in the next week to sort him out for next season.”
Ks have lined up a pre-season friendly - date and venue to be confirmed - with a touring side comprising of New Zealand and Australian B internationals looking to make their way in England.
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