BILLERICAY Town’s ambitious new owner Glenn Tamplin says he is convinced he will make his new project a success, after completing his takeover of the club.

After several weeks of negotiations, Tamplin took over from previous long-term owner Steve Kent last Thursday, and is now setting his sights on making Billericay the conquering force in non-league football.

The day after the deal was concluded, the Echo met the AGP Steel managing director, Billericay manager Craig Edwards and new chairman Danny Groves at Tamplin’s home in Romford, as he laid out his plans for the future of the club.

But the 44-year-old, who will be pumping £7,500 to £10,000 a week into the New Lodge club until the end of the season, said the supporters would define whether his new venture proved to be a success.

“This club needs an improved fan base and we must get the foundations right,” said Tamplin, who described the amount he paid for the club as “undisclosed”.

“£5,000 a week isn’t a lot to me but it will be in 10 years’ time if I have put a million in and got nowhere.

“It has been an amazing response since I took over and I have been humbled by it. A large number of people already want to get involved and help and I will use them all. This is their club.

“In the past I suffered burnout because of work and I lost my partner and four children. I got custody of two kids back but I had a big house and money but no happiness.

“You need life and family and I would have been happier in a one bed flat. A big house and a big stand but no family or fans is a waste of time. Billericay’s fans will be my family.”

Tamplin has already made quite an impression with the fans, interacting with them at home and away matches, making the trip to Sussex to watch Saturday’s match with Burgess Hill Town.

And he has high expectations for the team – expecting promotion to the National League South by the end of next season and a promotion every two seasons until they are a Football League side.

This includes plans for a 6,000 seater stadium, 4g training facility, and separate gym and bar area – which would be available to the local community and schools.

“I am extremely impatient,” he admitted. “I have a two-year target for every division and I expect to reach the Ryman Premier League play-offs this year but by the time we get there to be the best team in the play-offs.

“I would accept winning the league next year, which Craig agrees with.

“At this moment, I don’t know a lot about non-league football but I am learning more every day. I know there is a lot of good young talent that hasn’t had a break and a lot of journeymen but it’s a mixed bag.

“But this is people’s lives.

“I go to games with people and don’t see them for two hours as I am talking to the fans.

“This has consumed me. I was ignorant before and didn’t know how much it meant but I am constantly checking the scores and am so passionate about it, like I was as a player.”

Tamplin is urging the community to attend Monday’s fans forum at the club, with ideas for the future plans for the club to be discussed from 7:30pm.

And the new man in charge says, although he has not got an endless amount of cash, he expects the club, players and supporters to match his enthusiasm as he looks to build a lasting legacy.

“It is not a bottomless pit of money,” said Tamplin. “I believe Craig is one or two players away from a team that is guaranteed to win the league next year. I am not ruling it out this year but I am an optimist.

“It is important people know there is more to me than a pound note. I need people to know what I went through to get it. I went through a lot and got nothing in return and I will tell people what I expect from them, for what I am giving them.

“I expect people to give their best. I have money but values and morals are more important. Money comes last.

“This is a legacy and these guys have the chance to be the guys on the board in the clubhouse that people will remember was the start.

“I have a good gut-feeling about this. The energy around the club lights me up and it makes me glassy-eyed. This is going to work.”