Tiptree United manager Colin Wallington believes the club’s plan to step across into the Essex Senior League is the right move for the Jam-makers.

The prospect of being placed into the Southern League in the event of being promoted from their current postion in the Ridgeons League premier division, and the higher travelling costs that it could present, have led the Jam-makers to apply for a move into the Essex Senior League.

They feel that would give them a better chance of being promoted into the Ryman League and, while he feels it isn’t a move that he personally wants to make, Wallington is backing it as being in the best interests of the club.

“We want to go up but have been told that there is a real possibility that we would be put in the Southern League,” he said.

“We can not afford to do that and would not want to do it.

“The move is all about trying to move the club forward and into the Ryman League.

“Going into the Essex Senior League is the right thing for Tiptree United Football.

“If it is the right thing for me, I don’t know.

“I have said that I will stay with the club, but I don’t know if I am happy with that.

“I’m working with all the players for one year in the Essex Senior League and then into the Ryman League.

“The team will be set-up for two years to get us into the Ryman League premier division.

“We will have a year in the Essex Senior League, a year in Ryman division one north and then into the premier division, that is the plan.

“I’m 60 next year and at my age I don’t want to go back into the Essex Senior League, but if we don’t, then we cannot go forward as a club.

“You have to explain to people about what we are trying to achieve and you can take Hornchurch as an example when they had financial problems.

“They went into the Essex Senior League but are now in the Blue Square South.

“They built up and that is what we have to do now.

“It is not easy and anyone at Hornchurch will tell you, the hardest league to get out of was the Essex Senior League.

“Some of the players don’t want to play in that league.

“It doesn’t make them wrong, but I want people who want to take Tiptree United Football Club forward.

“I will do the right thing for Tiptree United.

“It is an amazing challenge and exciting times for the club.”