WEATHER permitting, Tunbridge Wells will be hoping to kick-start 2010 with a win at Sporting Bengal tomorrow (Saturday).

However, the trip to Mile End Stadium will be anything but easy as boss Martin Larkin knows only too well.

The perennial whipping boys of the Kent Premier League are on a fine run and sit 10th in the table. You may think that is nothing special if you are reading this for the first time, but when you consider past seasons, Bengal rarely win any games at all and usually prop up the division.

"We played them first game of the season and won 6-0." Larkin said. "But this is a very different team. I had them scouted last month and was told they are one of the best teams in the league. They've got a new manager who has brought a lot of talented players in. It's going to be a test and I'll be very, very pleased to come away with something."

Larkin is just beginning his first calendar year as a manager and so far his stats make good reading. His league record of won four, lost four and drawn seven suggests he has created a team that is very hard to beat. That would be true, but he has also built a team with one of the smallest budgets in the league and one that plays some of the most attractive football.

"I'm enjoying it and we are doing well," Larkin said. " If you were to do a league table on the budget each team has we'd be in the bottom three, but we aren't. That shows we've created a positive environment for the players.

"I want us to keep improving, to build things slowly. Get the foundations in place so that in the long term we can have growth and success. We've signed on two 16-year-olds who are exceptional and have another two who are coming up for 16. In three or four years I'd love to be able to build the team around them - if they are not snapped up by bigger clubs."

Larkin, who originally came to the Culverden as Mike Robbins' number two, admits stepping into the hot-seat has been something that has taken some getting used to.

"There's a lot more work during the week. Monday, Wednesday and Sunday as assistant you didn't do much. But now it's 24-7. I've just had three weeks in New Zealand and it's the first time I've been able to switch off since the summer. I've not been able to relax - it's like having a second full-time job."

He added: "I'm very keen to put my own stamp on the club. How to improve the club in terms of bringing in money etc.

"I'm pretty positive going into the year. I know where we need to strengthen. We are in a lot better shape in terms of the financial side of things and are only going to improve this year."