Tottenham Hotspur target Tanner challenged to get over dip in form

Tony Russell says Lewes need Ollie Tanner to rediscover his true Lewes FC form to help fire the Rooks to success.
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The manager says the 19-year-old’s form has taken a dip amid talk of a move to Spurs – a switch Tanner has opted not to make, preferring to stay with Lewes, at least for now.

Russell said: “There was a tweet from when he was 15 that some of fans got hold of and he ended up getting ridiculous amounts of abuse – beyond silly some of the stuff that was getting said and written.

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“But thankfully all these stupid fans have left us alone and left him alone now, so he can just concentrate on playing football.

Ollie Tanner on the ball for Lewes / Picture: James BoyesOllie Tanner on the ball for Lewes / Picture: James Boyes
Ollie Tanner on the ball for Lewes / Picture: James Boyes

“The past three games he hasn’t been very good – and that’s me being honest. I completely understand it from his perspective, he’s 19 and he’s had to deal with a lot but my focus is to get him back playing well because we need him.

“He really enjoys it with us, he chose to stay with us so he’s got to start again now.

“We need him to play well, if we have any chance of going up. At the moment he’s not doing that. We’re not getting much out of him, but I’ve told him the responsibility he’s got.

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“I think he can handle it – he’s a brilliant player, he’s a brilliant person but we need him to get back to levels of Ollie Tanner we know, which at the moment he’s not, he’s just below that.

“I will continue to back him, and he knows I’ve got his back, but we need him to start firing.”

Lewes have let Iffy Allen go to Hampton & Richmond which leaves them light on cover.