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Earlier this week, Romford FC dropped a shock announcement that ex-Billericay Town FC owner and manager Glenn Tamplin had taken control of the club.

It was clear the Tamplin was back in a big way, instantly making some huge statements.

Almost immediately, he sacked the existing manager and backroom staff to install a four-man management team with himself at the helm.

Then, he signed 18 new players - with plans to hire more - and announced that entry to their match under his ownership would be free.

On top of that, Tamplin promised every attendee at The Brentwood Arena - where Romford FC are currently ground-sharing - a free drink.

And two hours before the match, he told 12 Romford players to find new clubs.

Glenn Tamplin told football.london about his busy first week, and what he has planned for his new club.

"I don't like barking, I like biting. I bark once and then I bite..."

(Image: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Tamplin has revealed the reason why so many players had to leave the club straight away.

"I explained to the players that on time for me is half an hour early," he says.

The fact that some players didn't turn up on time was enough for Tamplin to dismiss them.

"It’s weakened the team but I’m a man of morals," Tamplin says.

"I don't like barking, I like biting. I bark once and then I bite. First time shame on you, second time shame on me."

The steel businessman has made it clear that he doesn't see Billericay Town as a failure, but will do things differently this time around.

"It worked at Billericay but it cost me too much money and I ended up getting bridging loans," he says. "No one knows what I did to keep that club going.

"I'll do it differently now because I'm getting players in on loan.

"At Billericay, I was spending £25,000 to £30,000 a week on wages.

"At this level, I'm only spending £3,000. Billericay was only one league higher than this and I was spending £30,000 a week. I would never do that again because I nearly went skint.

"I've learnt it's not about buying players. It's about relationships, loaning players in and becoming a team rather than individuals."

"What I'm doing this time is being much more humble..."

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Tamplin hit the headlines at Billericay for his eccentric personality as much as his heavy investment.

During his time there, he erected a garish mural, he posted photos online of him crying about how much he loves his club and of course, spend a lot of money on some big names.

He said: "I get what they said in the media about bringing well-known players in but Paul Konchesky, Jermaine Pennant and Jamie O'Hara were fantastic for the club.

"They had a great attitude, great morals. And the players who caused problems were the non-league players who thought they were Premier League players. The Premier League players were amazing."

Although no names as big as O'Hara's or Pennant's have been signed at Romford yet, Tamplin has already signed a lot of players.

Among the new faces is Freddie Moncur, the son of former West Ham midfielder John, and Phil Roberts, an Arsenal academy graduate who played underage for Ireland before embarking on a non-league odyssey.

Four new faces are expected to be loaned in from National League clubs in the next few days as Romford set their targets for the play-offs by May, a far cry from the relegation zone they currently sit in.

Getting there would require a lengthy winning run.

Thirteen games into the campaign, they are 16 points off fifth, although only three from safety.

"For me to stay well, because I am an addict, I have to have hobbies and be busy," he says.

"If I'm bored things can creep back in. What I'm doing this time is being much more humble, much more honest – even if people don't want to hear the truth."

"I back myself – I'm not arrogant I'm just confident..."

(Image: Getty Images)

Tamplin knows he faces a reputation every new place he goes, but the man himself puts his confidence as a result of his past.

"From childhood to being in mental homes. I spent 12 weeks in a psychiatric ward. I've been in the darkness.

"People don't realise that I am genuine, I am real.

"I walked away from a football club that I put £3 million into and left them sustainable, like I promised, and it's a club that is very well known now at non-league. And I walked away from it.

"Find someone that knows me and has a bad word to say about me," he adds.

"I'll put that out there now. I'm a very respectful human being. Just because I have some types of clothes, cars or watches, people have to understand the darkness I've been in as well.

"I'm just a genuine man but I get judged because of how I dress, how I look. I back myself – I'm not arrogant I'm just confident.

"If I'm not confident in me, who else is going to be."

"I've got an £8,000 squad but it's costing me only £3,000..."

(Image: Nicky Hayes)

The millionaire says that he's not bothered about the money spent on the free entry and free drink to Saturday's game - which saw Romford FC lose 3-2 to high-flying Coggeshall Town.

But he did say that sacking long-term manager Paul Martin was difficult, but ultimately a nessecity.

"I respect them highly, have a lot of time for them," Tamplin says. "But I'm only getting players offered on loan if I am managing them and looking after them.

"There are managers in the National League who I have relationships with and they are saying that I can have players but only if I'm in the dugout.

"I've got an £8,000 squad but it's costing me only £3,000 because I've got players on loan who are costing me £100 and are being paid at clubs like Dartford or Bromley and other clubs.

"Magic was amazing on the budget and is a big loss to Romford.

"I wish there was another side we could get him to manage but if we're to go to the Football League we need players from levels above to come in and do it."

Tamplin was very happy with the performance on Saturday, and said that now with his first game under his belt, the real work can begin making Romford FC a club worth being proud of.

"I live in an RM postcode, 20 minutes from the town centre, so I have that connection," he says.

"It's not about Glenn Tamplin, it's about Romford FC and the community," he says.

"Sit back and enjoy. This club is going places. We're building a new stadium, this is a team that will go up the leagues. It's a new beginning."