Former Chandler's Ford football coach and X-Factor hopeful Tom Mann, 21, is making it big with band Stereo Kicks

They have proved to be the busiest act out of the ITV show’s finalists after not only completing the X Factor Live nationwide tour but also completing their own sold-out headline tour.

Now they are poised to release their first single, Love Me So, with record giants Sony – written by Tom, 21, a former football coach from Chandler’s Ford.

Tom spoke exclusively to the Daily Echo on a rare day off and said: “It’s been all go and manic!“ The band are still with James Grant management.

But he is beyond excited about the self-penned single, “released in association with Sony in a one-track deal so we hope it will do well and more will follow!”.

“It is amazing and we really can’t believe it. For me it is a massive achievement because I love song-writing. I’m over the moon; it’s a massive honour and all the boys love it and for all of us to be on the same page about it is great. I didn’t even push for it .

“Back in January I was back at home and wrote the song. Then James [from James Grant management] came down to Southampton to hang out.

“We jumped in my home studio to record it and it sounded good. As soon as I recorded it I thought it would be good to use but I didn’t sell it. Then James told me he had had thousands of submissions for songs – but he wanted to use mine as our first single!”

Stereo Kicks

So what or who is the single about?

“It’s not about anyone in particular. Obviously it’s a ballad and a bit of a love song but not everyone in the band has been in love – as some of the boys are much too young, but everyone has been in love with something – not necessarily a girl or a person; it could be friends, family, someone that needs and depends on you or someone you miss.”

Had he been missing anyone or feeling homesick?

“I have felt like that in the past. It’s weird. When I write songs I just imagine myself in that situation rather than about how I’m actually feeling.”

He’s hopeful their ever growing number of fans will buy it so more can follow – and he is grateful to them.

“The reaction of the fans has been amazing. From our first solo show in Oxford they were recording it and singing it. They put it on YouTube and the next night in Sheffield everyone was singing all the words as they had all watched the YouTube clips!

“It’s mad, absolutely mad. Everyone is so excited. Now we just want to get it on the radio. Our fans have been amazing and so supportive.”

Tom is realistic and knows this single could be their only chance of chart success and all that follows.

“We might not get another opportunity and it’s a massive pressure. I feel we’ve done everything but released a record. It’s now all about seeing how the sales rack up and we hope our fan base is big enough.

“I don’t think there’s anyone stupid enough in the band not to realise that this is crucial for us. Everything is so exciting at the moment and we’ve not had time to stop and think about things. If it’s going to chart it will be in the next few months so we will have to work so hard with things like TV and radio – it’s make or break for everyone.

“We are lucky enough to be very active coming off the X Factor tour – compared to all the other acts on the X Factor live tour. Our management believes in us and that’s why we got our own tour and single so we feel very grateful.

“Doing the tours was a really good learning curve. I enjoyed the X Factor tour more than the TV show.

“Without all the TV coverage you could relax and enjoy what we were doing without the pressure – and our own tour was even better!

“Now everyone feels ready – we’ve dealt with all the criticism and we feel strong and unbreakable.”

Tom laughs about reports they sacked Louis Walsh as manager.

“Louis was only ever our mentor on the show. I think Louis is lovely but I don’t think us and him worked that well and without any guidance and leadership we are best on our own for now.

“We are better working apart. He has his own Irish boy band he works with at the moment so everyone is happy.

“We do have management – and they’ve organised the tour and single but creatively it is us boys; we make the decisions and the songs are written by us which is very rare.

“It’s unconventional but really credible. So if we do well no one can criticise us for just being a band off X Factor.”

Like most bands – especially from reality shows – they have had their critics and on-line trolls but Tom is philosophical.

“When you are exposed to that many people across the country you will never get everyone to like you.

“We could have got ourselves down about our critics but we’ve all decided to take it on the chin.

“Everyone has grown up so much since we started. We see comments online but I don’t feel anything. It’s easy to read ten positive comments and pick up on the odd bad one but we are focussing on the positives.

“Since I was 13 years old I’ve written over 200 songs, including those I’ve tossed away; there’s been a lot of rubbish. I’m writing songs all the time. The band has even discussed the next one.

“I was writing yesterday and today and |providing everything goes well I’m plan-|ning to write with a couple of well known people.”

Pressed to reveal who he said it looks like he will be doing some writing with James Arthur who won X Factor a couple of years ago.

“I would love there to be an album but everything depends on the single. We are aiming to get top five. Everyone has fallen in love with the idea of having a number 1 but it’s not that easy.

The single Love Me So is officially launched on June 21 but it has already gone to No 24 on the iTunes pre-order charts.

“June 21 will be very nerve-wracking!” adds Tom.