Our system detected that your browser is blocking advertisements on our site. Please help support Fans Focus by disabling any kind of ad blocker while browsing this site. Thank you.
Jump to content

The Weymouth Exodus

Hatboy

By Hatboy
in St. Albans City Forum

 Share

Recommended Posts

AFF Newbie

AFF

Posted
Posted

Leaving on one side the signings from The Woood, all of the players at The Muff are on full-time contracts and, I imagine, they will be looking for full-time positions, and, obviously, full-time wages.

 

Any of 'em who want a part-time post would be approaching us, I would have thought, as, I assume, by definition we will be paying some of the highest [part-time] wages in Non-League football.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hatboy Newbie

Hatboy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Grays snap up pair from Weymouth

 

Downer and El-Kholti are among several players leaving Weymouth

Grays Athletic have clinched the signings of Weymouth duo Simon Downer and Abdou El-Kholti.

Former Orient defender Downer, 25, ends an 18-month stay with the Terras, while ex-Chester midfielder El-Kholti, 26, had been at Weymouth since last summer.

 

Weymouth were forced to trim their staff to cut costs but having seen five players leave have removed the rest of their squad from the transfer list.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
JKiF Newbie

JKiF

Posted
Posted

Weymouth's financial plight starts to bite

 

By Ricky George

Last Updated: 2:33am GMT 29/01/2007

 

Your View: Football fans' forum

 

These are worrying times for Weymouth and their chairman Martyn Harrison. The Nationwide Conference club, serious contenders for a play-off place at the beginning of this season, now find themselves embroiled in a battle for survival.

 

Just over two weeks ago, when Weymouth were one point off the play-offs with two games in hand, Harrison announced that the club was in serious financial trouble.

 

As part of several drastic cost-cutting measures, manager Garry Hill and his assistant Kevin Hales were dismissed and the entire playing staff transfer- listed. Since then seven key players have left the club, including captain Ben Smith, who returned to Hereford United last week. On Saturday, prior to Weymouth's 1-1 draw at home to Northwich Victoria, Harrison spoke frankly of the club's plight.

 

"I'm afraid I got carried away and I've been very stupid," he said. "It's been three years of putting in and putting in.

 

advertisement

"I was waiting on a possible development with Asda. That was an opportunity for the club to be re-housed and receive a trust fund for the future, but planning permission was refused. It [the situation] has affected my health and my family, so it just had to stop.

 

"I haven't stopped dead, I will get the club through as best I can, but it's not going to be easy. If somebody came along now I'd be delighted to talk to them, but they have got to be able to afford it in the short term. I've done well in my hotel business, but football is a different thing altogether.

 

"Quite why I thought I could come in and learn football overnight, I've no idea. There are a lot of people like me. It's a heart over head thing. In reality, the gate pays three quarters of the players' wages and nothing else.

 

"I miscalculated on the gates – I was hoping for 2,500 average, which would have given us another £5,000 per fortnight."

 

Harrison, 57, estimates that with personal guarantees to the bank, share purchase and investment, his Weymouth Football Club experience has cost him over £3 million.

 

Saturday's attendance of 1,451 was significantly down on the season's average, but the fans were treated to a gutsy display from a new-look Weymouth side, which included recent signing Stuart Beavon, who replaced striker Chukki Eribenne, after a clash of heads in the 13th minute.

 

The 22-year-old, who scored over a 100 goals in 2½ seasons at Didcot Town, lifted the gloom at the Wessex stadium when he touched home a pass from Brian Dutton in the 63rd minute. That followed Richard Logan's penalty miss moments earlier after Northwich's Gareth Griffiths had handled in the area.

 

Vics' striker Jonny Allan equalised in the 80th minute, then tragically suffered a broken fibula following a clash with Weymouth skipper Ashley Vickers.

 

Referee Andrew Sainsbury from Wiltshire, unaccountably awarded Weymouth a free-kick, then changed his mind and sent Vickers off after discussion with his assistant. It was just one of several inconsistent decisions by the official and the game deteriorated in the final minutes as a result.

 

Thirteen days ago, 29-year-old Jason Tindall was appointed as player-manager to replace Hill, who, during his 22-month tenure at Weymouth, won the Conference South Championship, took the club to two FA Cup first round appearances, and lost just 16 of 75 league games. At what cost to the club's future, is now a question only Harrison can answer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
YELLOW Newbie

YELLOW

Posted
Posted

Gary Hill has gone to Grays as their Director of Football. Rumour has it that he's likely to replace Justin Edinburgh as manager.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Laz Newbie

Laz

Posted
Posted

Press Release

January 30, 2007, 10:13 AM

 

Grays Athletic have today appointed Garry Hill as Director of Football, Garry is on a non-contract basis until the end of the season.

 

Justin Edinburgh remains Manager of Grays Athletic; Chairman Mick Woodward has appointed Garry for his knowledge of the non-league circuit and is keen to tap into this knowledge in the quest to strengthen the current squad and to assist in turning around the form

 

Press Release

January 30, 2007, 01:34 PM

 

Following discussions Gary Hill has decided not to accept the position of Director of Football at this stage of the season as he feels this could jeopardise any future managerial posts that may be on offer.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
YELLOW Newbie

YELLOW

Posted
Posted

Oh dear. Ain't looking too clever in gyppoland.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
YELLOW Newbie

YELLOW

Posted
Posted

This is a comment on the Hx forum from a Grays' fan. Proves the club is in a total mess at the moment.

 

"Yesterdays farce is now clearly understood but will not appear on our own board for obvious reasons. MW appointed Hill without telling JE who promptly walked with his coaches and staff when it all unfolded, at 10.30am yesterday Hills was in fact Grays ONLY manager. MW, after reading all of the backlash on ALL forums promptly did a U turn and at 1pm the retraction was issued. God knows how much Hills was paid for two hours in office. I am beginning to have doubts about our direction and god only knows what JE thinks about it all now. Well done on your win last night by the way. Men against boys I am told. "

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...