|
|
|
|
|
HELP THE CLUB - join the Friends of Altrincham FC and the Patrons' Club - full details of these and other fundraising initiatives are here.  
|
Blue Square Football report that "Altrincham emerged from two very difficult travelling assignments with fully deserved points at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and Wrexham on Tuesday night, but it was a serious injury to Tom Kearney (right) that was the focus of manager Graham Heathcote's attention in the aftermath of a feisty encounter in North Wales.
With Wrexham leading 1-0, former Chelsea defender, Frank Sinclair, was shown a red card for his challenge on the Altrincham captain just before the interval and that lit the touch paper both on and off the field as emotions ran exceptionally high for the remainder of the game.
Heathcote said: "People will have their own views on the challenge, but the reaction to applaud Frank Sinclair who has just been sent off and boo Tom Kearney as he is carried off on a stretcher is, at best, unacceptable and a lot of people couldn't believe what was happening. Our players were gone at half time and knowing that Tom had broken his leg meant that there was no enthusiasm for the second half. It is to their great credit that they performed so well and we were well worth a point."
The other club is Farsley Celtic who "have been disbanded after the club's administrators rejected numerous improved offers from the Palmer-Farrell consortium. Their expulsion from the Football Conference was expected to occur later this week after they failed to fulfil their last three fixtures. The Blue Square North side entered administration at the start of the season with reported debts of £750,000. The club are expected to reform next season in the Unibond First Division."
Before the game Richard Williams wrote in "The Leader" that "Andy Mangan is fit to face Altrincham at The Racecourse tonight... 'I trained yesterday and I feel fine', said Mangan. '“I thought it was serious at the time, and it does not look nice on the video. But the pitch being in the condition it was probably saved me. Even though my knee gave way my foot has gone into the ground so that helped. I did a lot of squats with the Forest Green physio when I was banned so maybe that helped'". As for the draw with Ebbsfleet at the weekend, Mangan said “I thought we played well, the first half was really good. We should have put them to bed and then if it is 3-0 or 4-0 and you concede, it doesn’t matter. The attacking players need to take responsibility for that... We have just got to go again and try and score goals against Altrincham... If I can get ten or more in the 24 games I think I can play this season, I think it will be a success personally".
Also before Tuesday's game, the Daily Post said that Dean Saunders "reckons everyone knows what to expect from visiting boss Graham Heathcote and his players. 'They are a good team who stick five men across the back and are hard to play against', he said. 'They will try and catch us on the break so we might have to be patient, but if we play like we did at Altrincham recently I’ll settle for that every day of the week because I thought we were excellent... We have to go out now and beat Altrincham. They have some good players that a lot of teams would take, but from my point of view we played well on Saturday, we looked dangerous and we had our chances... I’m already having thoughts about what is going to happen next season and I have earmarked a couple of players I would like to sign. The fans here have seen another year of this league and will have formed their opinions of what is needed and I think we have to bring in players who will do us a job in this league... The teams above us have to lose games, but that’s not impossible', he said. 'And although it hasn’t happened this season there is no reason why, with a bit of luck, we couldn’t win 10 on the trot'".
Right: the Man who Never Was; Danny Edwards, seen here with Tom Kearney, played for Altrincham this season - or did he? Read on....
According to the Football Conference "Chester City (2004) FC, having not lodged any appeal in respect of their removal from the competition, their playing record has been expunged with immediate effect. A new calculated table is being circulated via the Press Association this afternoon as the official record to be used by all the media and member clubs from this date.
Due to the fact that ALL goals involved in those matches played to date are also expunged, it means that those players having scored goals in matches against Chester City in the Blue Square Premier also see them expunged from the record books.
This is to maintain fairness and consistency in relation to the player winning the "Golden Boot" award at the end of the season in the Blue Square Premier. Goals scored in FA Cup or FA Trophy ties are not so affected and will remain in those competitions."
This website's amended table is here. Colin Little loses two of his four goals this season courtesy of the Conference ruling, whilst Robbie Williams and Chris Senior also lose a goal apiece. However, this site's appearance and goalscoring statistics have not been changed.
A quirk of the Conference ruling is that Danny Edwards (right) now officially never played a game for Alty. His only Altrincham appearance, on loan from Port Vale, was the home game against Chester.
NL Daily reports that "After their expulsion from the Blue Square Premier, Chester City are understood to have enquired about joining the Principality Welsh Premier. A spokesman for the League confirmed there had been interest from owner Stephen Vaughan, although it is highly unlikely that Chester could even comply with the deadlines for the FA of Wales domestic licence.
City are due back in the High Court on Wednesday to face a winding-up order over £26,125 owed to HM Revenue & Customs. Meanwhile, The New Saints will not be ground-sharing with Chester next season after failing to supply a draft agreement before the FAW`s March 1st deadline".
"Crawley Town can confirm that Matthew Langston has joined on an emergency loan from rivals Histon... at least until Sunday, 18th April 2010. Sussex-born Langston, 28, has been outstanding for Histon and can be regarded as a major scoop for manager Steve Evans, especially given the current injury crisis at the Broadfield Stadium. Evans said: 'I am grateful to Bruce Winfield and Susan Carter sanctioning the loan signing but they could see we were down to the bare bones. I would like to add one other but that will be a decision for later in the week'".
Right: Greg Young and Robbie Williams show their commitment in the game at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
BSP fixtures
'I wanted to walk off the pitch on Saturday, but the medical people were concerned that I didn't do any more damage, so that's why I was taken off on a stretcher', said Andy. 'It was certainly sore, but by the time I had woken up on Sunday morning, it felt so much better. I have been able to join in training as normal today and haven't felt any adverse reaction, so I'm looking forward to facing Altrincham'".
Ahead of the game, the Daily Post says that "For the second successive match they contrived to be the authors of their own misfortune. They squandered the fruits of a hard-earned superiority against visitors Ebbsfleet United due to a combination of missed opportunities to put the outcome beyond doubt and a collective attack of nerves that allowed their stubborn opponents to believe they might actually depart the Racecourse having purloined more than the point that was pretty much handed to them on a plate". This was also "a Dragons team that the previous weekend had absolutely battered Salisbury City for virtually 90 minutes before dropping two points to a dubious penalty...
In the last 10 games alone since the turn of the year, they have lost only twice, but the eight points dropped in four draws might have put a very different complexion on the final few weeks of their campaign...
Andy Fleming, the midfield player – whose consistent level of performance has been one of the few positives this season – kept on probing and pushing... The final whistle was greeted with resignation by the home fans who tend to be a cynical bunch at the best of times, but have seen it all before".
Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote invited Dan and Niall into the team dressing room before the match and told his players: 'We want you to give your all for 90 minutes this afternoon - these lads have bust their guts on their bikes for three days to get here to support you'. The players produced an excellent performance to come away with a 1-1 draw against an AFC Wimbledon team that are pushing hard for promotion to the Football League via the play-offs".
TASC Football Predictions Competition 2010 - Update
Following on from the rearrangement of our home game with York City, this game has now been removed from the TASC Football Predictions Competition and replaced by Wigan v Arsenal. Updated entry forms are available to download from the forum, or can be collected from the TASC stand of the club shop at the upcoming home games against York City and Kettering. Please note that the closing date for all entries is Friday, March 19th. Through-out the competition, weekly updates will appear both on the website and on the forum
Details of the scheme are below...
Think that you are Altrincham's top tipster? Want the chance to win some money for your predictions?
TASC is launching its first ever football prediction competition.
The rules are simple:
A league table will be updated on the website and forum each week. Entry into the competition costs £5. The winner will receive 20% of the income, the runner up will recieve 15% of the income, 3rd place will recieve 10% of the income and, one selected place will win their £5 stake back. The remainder of the income will go to TASC. Please note that where entrants finish level on points, the number of 100% correct results will be used as the tie-breaker.
How do you enter?
Simply either download a entry form, or pick up an entry form from the TASC stand of the club shop at the home against Kettering on March 16th. Completed entries should be returned to me no later than FRIDAY MARCH 19th. The first matches take place on Saturday March 20th.
Thomas told United’s website, 'We have kept a very tight squad all season, and while others have squads of 25-30 plus, we have always been in and around the 20-21 mark... To be able to add a player like Lewis at this stage of the season to our squad is great, as Lewis has been there and seen what we expect to see in this last set of games'...
Chalmers, a former Manchester City youth team player, started his [semi-]professional career at Altrincham and went on to make 73 appearances for the Cheshire outfit, scoring six times... He became an important figure in the Shots’ Conference and FA Trophy-winning squad, making 99 appearances scoring four goals...
Chalmers admitted 'I have been really impressed with what Chris Wilder is building here. I know six or seven of the lads already and they have all told me the same thing: that the manager will get the best out of you here, and you will want to run through walls for him'".
The Cambridge News says that "Matt Langston has agreed to go out on loan to Crawley Town until April 18. Langston, along with four other senior players currently negotiating new deals at the Glass World Stadium, were dropped for Saturday 0-0 draw with Gateshead and the Histon skipper's departure was confirmed by the club today. A statement from Histon said: 'All parties concerned are pleased with the outcome'.
"The five key players sensationally dropped from Histon's clash with Gateshead on Saturday will not feature in tomorrow night's match at Tamworth, and may have played their last games for the club. Manager Alan Lewer made that clear after his shock decision to axe skipper Matt Langston, Danny Wright, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Lanre Oyebanjo and Bradley Hudson-Odoi because of the contracts stalemate. 'It's come to a point now when we had to take a stand and tell people that nobody is bigger than the club', said Lewer. 'We had a meeting on Friday and decided to leave these players out and let them have a week to consider their futures. The contracts they've been offered are decent contracts, some are as good as in League Two, but they are asking for more and more and we can't give it... I've spoken to other managers at full-time clubs and they can't afford these players. The players have to consider that because at the end of the season there are going to be about 3,000 players in the stew looking for new clubs'.
It shows you the sort of money that's been paid out at Histon over the last few years. And if we don't address it now we'll be in trouble... 'The supporters were magnificent, they really got behind the lads, and these players deserved their chance. They are young, they are learning the game and I couldn't fault their effort'... As well as the five players dropped on Saturday, reserve goalkeeper Joe Welch has also been told he will not be selected while he is in dispute with the club about his contract".
NL News 24 says that "Elliott Charles is looking to repay the faith shown in him by manager Lee Harper and help fire the poppies into League Two. Charles has joined Kettering on a short term loan until the end of the season having impressed Harper during a trial at the club.
The 6ft 2in striker was released by Barnet earlier in the season, and while the 20-year-old is ready to do the job his boss wants, Charles is hoping to deliver a bit more. 'I am very pleased to get a deal here', he tells northantset.co.uk. 'I have been training with the squad for just over a month now so I know the lads and I feel I had done well enough to get something... The gaffer told me he was looking for a big target man who could get up there and hold the ball up. But that’s not all I am. I will give him what he wants and hopefully give him even more'".
The Salisbury Journal says that "Salisbury City skipper Darrell Clarke has agreed a new deal on the eve of a return to his hometown club Mansfield Town. Clarke will stay with the Whites for at least another season, and his new deal includes extra responsibilities. The 32-year-old will develop his Football in the Community role, and also assist the club’s new commercial manager Ken Wilde...
And Mikey Thomas "still registered as a player, but [a] qualified coach will now take on a more hands-on role with the reserve team as well as continuing to assist Tommy Widdrington in training and on matchdays... 'I’m going to look to raise the standards of nutrition, hydration and things like that among the players – just trying to help make the club as professional as possible', he said...
Said Widdrington, 'He deserves a huge amount of credit for helping with pre-season training, hydration strategies and individual fitness and strengthening programmes'. Highly-regarded sports therapist James Grigg has [also] been added to the backroom staff. The 25-year-old will head a restructured physio department, leading Kev Bushby and Conrad Parrott. .. 'The restructuring of our medical staff will undoubtedly improve performance on the pitch', said Widdrington".
Also "Work has also begun on installing the club’s new floodlights".
Blue Square Football says that "AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown blamed Altrincham's negative approach as well as a weak penalty for the Dons dropping two points on Saturday. 'We know what Altrincham are all about. I've managed against Graham Heathcote's side for over ten years!' Brown told the Croydon Guardian...
'They came with a game plan with Senior on his own up top and everyone else behind the ball. They're extremely tough to break down and make it impossible to create space in the midfield'. While criticising Altrincham's defensive approach, Brown did have praise for the Robins' two men at the back: 'To be fair their two central defenders [Young and Williams] did what you rarely see, and that's get the better of Danny (Kedwell) and Nathan Elder... I haven't seen the stats but I guess they had one or two shots on target at best', added the AFC Wimbledon boss. '"I couldn't see them scoring in a million years but we gave them an awful penalty'".
AFC Wimbledon report that "The Dons suffered a blow to their play off hopes when they were comfortably held to a 1-1 draw by Altrincham in a dour game of few chances. Wimbledon started with Derek Duncan at left back and he was one of the few bright lights in a dull first half, only to mar his performance with a needless foul on Chris Denham to give Altrincham a penalty and the lead on 51 minutes.
Altrincham started brightly and it took the Dons some time to get into their stride. Nathan Elder and Danny Kedwell struggled to make an impact on Altrincham's towering centre half combination... The Dons' best chance of a breakthrough needed to come from through balls between the rather immobile centre backs...
February player of the month Chris Senior converted Altrincham's penalty but it was the only time he threatened all afternoon as Ben Judge kept him tightly under control. Indeed, the Dons defence was rarely threatened as Altrincham got men behind the ball quickly and closed down the Wimbledon midfield, stifling hopes of an equaliser... For all their efforts, Wimbledon rarely looked like scoring the winner and Altrincham went away with a hard fought draw, which seemed to match their ambition.
Terry Brown said 'Altrincham came with a clear game plan, with Senior up front, and made it hard for us to break them down. We knew that Graham Heathcote's sides are hard to beat and, to be fair, they did what other teams have struggled to do, getting the better of Danny Kedwell and Nathan Elder. We lacked a cutting edge today'".
BSP fixtures
FAT Trophy SF 1st Leg
Former Alty striker Steve Lunt was back at Moss Lane yesterday, as physio to the Altrincham and District FA side.
From the Bury Times we learn of an ex-Alty player who has ended up behind bars, following David Anane, Ashley Timms and Mark Ward. "A former semi-professional footballer has been jailed for two years after admitting working as a loan shark. Tony Cullen, aged 36, of Myrtle Grove, Whitefield, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, alongside five other family members involved in a complex and long-running swindle.
The catalogue of fraud was exposed after Tony Cullen’s brother David, aged 30, from Salford, was jailed for 10 years for robbing a bank in 2006. A probe into his luxury lifestyle revealed he bought a house in Scott Road, Prestwich, for £100,000 with a cash deposit of £40,000. He also bought a Harley Davison pick-up truck for about £23,000 and an £8,000 Fiat Stylo for his girlfriend...
The court heard David Cullen ran money through the accounts of Tony and his brother, Arron... Tony Cullen was once on the books of Premier League sides Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers and also played for Radcliffe Borough. He joined semi-professional team FC United of Manchester... The player became the club’s first reserve team manager in 2006, but left United before these charges were brought.
Tony Cullen admitted earning £8,000 a month on the interest from unlicensed loans. He drove a £30,000 Range Rover Vogue previously owned by Manchester United player Ryan Giggs. Tony Cullen’s girlfriend, Christina Williamson, drove a £26,000 Volkswagen Toureg. Police found jewellery at their home worth £50,000. Tony Cullen admitted money laundering, running an illegal money lending business and conspiracy to commit benefit fraud".
Cullen made a three-minute appearance for Alty at Accrington in 2003.
In a very eventful Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup Final at Moss Lane on Saturday, Alty played 30 minutes of extra time with a defender in goal. There is a match report in the Youth section.
Right, Alty celebrate their second goal.
The player himself was able to walk unaided from the Racecourse after getting showered and was trying to make light of the situation".
Also, "Having watched his team surrender more valuable play-off points at home Ebbsfleet United, manager Dean Saunders was at a loss to explain why we are not able to kill teams off. I feel like I'm saying the same things every week - as this game should have all been over by half time', he said... 'I think I counted 14 chances today... Anyone who comes to watch us, will see that it's incredible how we're coming away from games without the points, after playing well'".
"Wrexham boss Dean Saunders was left angry at his team's wastefulness as they failed to find a winner against Ebbsfleet" reports Blue Square Football. "Speaking to the BBC after the game it was all too familiar for Saunders: 'Déjà vu again - balls going in, chances missed... I think we had 15 chances, seven of them on target, seven of them off target'".
Goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt was the first player to reject a new deal and the club's financial constraints are starting to become more apparent with this latest setback. Stutes boss Alan Lewer has also revealed... 'We've got a situation now where we can't continue to pay the wages we have done'".
From NL News 24 we learn that "Gary Mills and Darron Gee are urging fans to turn out in their droves to support Tamworth’s Blue Square Premier campaign. A crowd of just 483 watched last week’s match and manager Mills and No.2 Gee admitted they were desperately disappointed with the attendance, the Birmingham Mail is reporting. The cash-strapped Lambs are operating with the lowest budget in the league but they need fans through the gate to build.
'We were just flabbergasted by the gate against Gateshead, considering what we have done this season', said Gee. 'We are champions of the Blue Square North, we have played some unbelievable football and got some fantastic results, but it seems unless you win 4-0 every week there are some fans who just aren’t bothered... How can you plan your budget for next year when you are getting gates of 483? If the club is only getting that sort of figure, then it really is in trouble. It’s not good enough'".
'Of course we want to stay at Fratton Park but nobody knows who owns it and whether that would be viable', said Brendon Bone of the Pompey Supporters Trust... If the club cease to exist, the Trust would start a new one. They could still call themselves Portsmouth FC as... the Premier League club trade under the name of Portsmouth City Football Club... ...
Havant & Waterlooville are keen on sharing – Portsmouth play reserve matches at Westleigh Park – and Pompey are confident of being admitted into the Conference next season.... Bone said: 'There is no precedent for a club of our size going out of business, and we think we would be admitted into the Conference... clubs in lower leagues wouldn't be able to cope'".
Above: Michael Linney (no.10 in yellow) puts Altrincham 1-0 up.
At Moss Lane today, Altrincham & District FA Youth (comprising Altrincham FC's youth team) led Stockport & District FA 2-1 with the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup Final into its 90th minute. Then, Alty failed to deal with a long ball up the middle which left Stockport's Needham running at goal. Altrincham goalkeeper Thorn brought the Stockport man down and was sent off, leaving centre-back Rory Bradbury to face a penalty. He almost stopped Hodgetts's spot-kick but the ball squirmed out of his grasp and over the line to send the game into extra time.
Earlier, a below-par Altrincham should have taken advantage of Stockport having their left-back Manning sent off as early as the fifth minute, especially after Michael Linney had put Altrincham ahead in the 13th minute. But Michael Martin deservedly equalised for ten-man Stockport after 72 minutes before Dan Shaw seemed to have scored the winner for Altrincham, seven minutes later.
Then came the last-minute drama to send the game into ten-a-side for 30 extra minutes, with Alty having no specialist goalkeeper on the field. Nevertheless, Alty had the better of added time but a penalty shoot-out was needed to settle the game. Alty's Sheridan saw his spot kicked saved and Dominic Bates's penalty hit the post, leaving Stockport 4-3 winners.
Yesterday, Brian Flynn wrote of their exploits:
Wimbledon Bike Ride-185 Down......42 To Go!!!!
"Another very tough day of cycling for Dan and Niall as they completed a further 98 miles on Friday.The lads called in at Kettering Town, Rushden and Diamonds and Hitchin Town before reaching their overnight destination at Stevenage. Kettering Town gave the boys a club flag with the proviso that they must email a picture of them with it outside Rushden and Diamonds' Nene Park ground and this was duly actioned for publication in the Kettering programme!!
The boys are very tired.....particularly Niall, who was struggling to stand up on Friday night!!
There are 42 miles left and they are hoping to arrive at Kingsmeadow around 1.00pm this afternoon".
The ride raised funds for The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust which is based at Millington, near Altrincham, within ten acres of beautiful Cheshire countryside. It is a haven for hundreds of disabled and disadvantaged children. The Trust's aim is to provide special holidays for special children. Groups of children, average age 4 - 14, and their carers, visit The Farm for a free weeklong holiday. For further information go to their website.
If you wish to support Dan and Niall's Fundraising efforts then please e-mail one of the following:-
Or, you can ring Altrincham Football Club on 0161 928 1045.
You can also donate online at:- Just Giving
Online donations are eligible for Gift Aid and will be paid directly to The Children's Adventure Farm Trust by Just Giving.
The Mail adds that 'both Barrow and Kettering Town were also charged by the FA under Rule E20 (a) - failure to ensure its players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour. The Bluebirds yesterday confirmed that, after studying DVD evidence of the incident, they have denied the charge and requested a personal hearing. An FA spokesman said Kettering have admitted the charge and requested a non-personal hearing. It is understood that the FA are likely to consider the cases of Bayliss and Barrow at the same hearing, which the Holker Street club expect to be held within the next seven days".
Right: Chris Senior receives congratulations after netting his 15th goal of the season at Kingsmeadow.
Saturday 6 March
BSP
The Surrey Herald claims that "AFC Wimbledon could face a defensive crisis for Saturday's visit of Altrincham. The Dons were without all four centre-halves for Tuesday's Surrey Senior Cup win at Chipstead, with Brett Johnson (injured) and Jay Conroy (suspended) already out of the Kingsmeadow clash against the Robins.
However, boss Terry Brown is sweating on the availability of Paul Lorraine (groin) and Ben Judge (ill). He said: 'Brett's damaged his patella on the front of his knee and is at least a week or two away. He's a big miss because he makes us stronger in the middle or at left-back... Hopefully Lorro should be okay... Ben Judge has got the flu, so I sent him home from the game on Tuesday so the other players wouldn't catch it'.
If the pair fail to recover in time, the Dons chief faces the prospect of playing full-backs Sam Hatton and Danny Blanchett in the heart of defence. Brown slammed the duo's display as AFC edged past minnows Chipstead, conceding all three goals from long balls over the top. He added: 'Our rearranged defence was pretty disastrous, and we were exposed on a number of occasions by the long ball over the heads of the replacement centre-backs'".
Elsewhere, the Surrey Herald adds that "Terry Brown could be without 10 players for the visit of Altrincham on Saturday. The AFC Wimbledon boss is without Brett Johnson, Kennedy Adjei and long-term crocks Alan Inns and Ross Montague, while Jay Conroy is suspended and Jack Turner and Peter Rapson are out on loan. Brown is also sweating on the fitness of defenders Paul Lorraine (groin) and Ben Judge (ill), as well as striker Jon Main (shin). However, the Kingsmeadow chief can welcome back Luke Moore into the squad after he made a return from injury in the Surrey Senior Cup win at Chipstead on Tuesday night. Our prediction: The Dons to continue their formidable home form".
South London Today says that "Nathan Elder will have to take a hefty pay cut if he wants to stay at Kingsmeadow next season. The striker, on loan at AFC Wimbledon from Shrewsbury since January, is due to return to the League Two club in the summer. The South London Press has learned that the Dons are only paying a proportion of the player’s wages and will not match his current salary".
It's sad news for Matt Doughty (right) , as physio Sean Riley confirms, "I received the scan report last night (Thursday) which confirmed my initial diagnosis that Matt has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. In addition to this he has also sustained tears to both the cartilages on the inside and outside of his knee. Matt will undergo a cruciate ligament reconstruction on Tuesday, 30th March in Preston. This is a massive blow for Matt and indeed all of us at the club,it means that he will be out of action until mid October. We now have 2 players (Matt and Dale Johnson) who will be undergoing rehabilitation at the same time following a cruciate ligament repair".
All at Altrincham FC wish Matt, as well as Dale, a full recovery from this nasty injury. Dale returned to light training last week when he took part in the pre-match period before the game against Grays.
All three should be in action at Moss Lane this Sunday (2pm) when Altrincham & District FA Youth (comprising Altrincham FC's youth team) meet Stockport & District FA in the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup Final at Moss Lane (2pm). Please come along and support the lads. Entry is just £2 (£1 for concessionaries).
The Northwich Guardian says that "Lee Elam is the latest player to leave Northwich Victoria as the club continues to cut its weekly wage bill. He has joined Bradford Park Avenue, currently on course to join Andy Preece’s men next season as UniBond League Premier Division champions. Vics will not receive a fee for the 33-year-old wide man.
Elam’s exit ends a fifteen-months spell at the Victoria Stadium, during which he has made fifty-one appearances and scored five times. But the former Altrincham winger has struggled to find space in the starting line since the start of the year... Elam was one of five contracted players transfer-listed at the start of last month after owner Jim Rushe revealed that the club was not making enough money to pay its highest earners. Mat Bailey [ex-Alty], Ryan Brown [to Alty] and Jonathan D’Laryea have left since then too. The latest departure leaves the Northwich manager with just sixteen players to pick from".
FC United report that they "go into Saturday's game at Buxton still unbeaten in 2010 following eight games without defeat but the Reds must now continue their run without on-loan striker Kyle Wilson as he has been recalled by Macclesfield Town".
I work hard for the club, more hours than a full time job some weeks, for no financial reward. I work hard in at my own full time job and help support the club financially, which without it would not have survived... I have had enough. So I say to all you smart @!)@! If you think you can do a better job, be my guest... In future I will be using my time and hard earned money wisely, elsewhere, where it is appreciated, it will not be for the benefit of a football club and 7 to 800 supporters.
I wish all our true supporters and Crawley Town FC the very best of luck in the future. I can honestly say it has been an experience, but one I do not have to continue".
Earlier, This is Sussex reported that "Crawley Town co-owner Susan Carter says she wants Steve Evans to stay on as the club's manager - but cannot promise him more money to spend on players next season. The Reds' boss has gone on record as saying he will only remain at the Broadfield for the final year of his contract if he is given a budget big enough to seriously challenge for promotion.
But Carter, who highly rates the 47-year-old, says she will not risk Town's financial future to keep her manager happy. She said: 'Of course we want to keep him. There are not many managers out there who would have been able to cope with what we have gone through this year - let alone have the team in the top half of the table. A lot of it will depend on if there is a tv deal in place and on how our season ticket sales are going'.
Evans's stock has risen significantly this season as he has guided Crawley to the verge of the play-offs despite having one of the smallest squads in the division. Last week Notts County offered him the chance to return to the Football League with the League Two promotion hopefuls. Former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill eventually got the job on a short term basis but the Crawley News understands the Magpies may return in the summer to get their man...
However, Carter is philosophical about the approach, 'The reality is though, we will always be unable to compete with the likes of Luton... Their budget is more in a month than ours is for the whole season. We don't want to be a selling club but we have to be a selling club... I'd rather us have to sell the odd player than being in the situation of other clubs. The club will be announcing it's season ticket prices next week, with Carter insisting that the majority of tickets would not go up in price... We're looking to launch a family ticket that will give better value'".
Deva Chat says that "The story of football in Chester is reaching further heights, and on Saturday, Football Focus on BBC1 will be featuring a section about clubs in crisis and the current state of finances in English football... Saturday afternoon, BBC1, 12.15pm".
The Football Conference says that "Kettering Town have signed Nigerian under-23 international striker Chijioke Pascal Ebigbo on non-contract terms. The 22-year-old, who has been playing in Sweden with Bodens BK, had to wait for both international clearance and confirmation of a work permit... The striker is the second Poppies signing in a week, after ex-Barnet forward Elliot Charles".
Going part-time does not seem to be an option at Ebbsfleet United who "will aim to avoid a repeat of last summer’s squad decimation by asking supporters to help them sign key players on new contracts" says Kent Online. "Ebbsfleet’s entire squad will be out of contract after April 24, but chairman Duncan Holt revealed he will meet manager Liam Daish on Friday to prepare a list of personnel they want to keep. Mr Holt said he hoped "a supporters’ initiative" could generate enough cash to keep seven or eight of Fleet’s best players.
Fleet’s financial woes worsened as it emerged that just 800 of more than 4,000 MyFC members whose membership was up for renewal last month chose to continue their support. The number of members has fallen to around 4,500, with the club planning to launch a share issue to raise enough money to see them out of this campaign and into the next one.
Mr Holt said: 'We had somewhere in the region of 20 per cent renewing. We were obviously hoping for a lot more, but it gives us something to work with. We are waiting to see how it affects our cash flow... Nobody wants a repeat of last year. I’ll sit down with Liam and talk about who to keep and get some numbers so we can put them to the supporters as soon as possible. Hopefully at the end of April when the 43-week contacts are up there will be seven or eight contracts covered by a fans’ initiative'.
Mr Holt said the share issue was a 'completely separate thing', but added: 'To sustain where we are and take care of the deficit we need between £200,000 and £250,000'".
The Chroncile Live says that "Ian Bogie has issued a rallying call to Gateshead fans to show their support via bums on seats – because the club can not depend exclusively on chairman Graham Wood. The Tynesiders...average just under 600 at the International Stadium...
Wood continues to finance his hometown club in the pursuit of a 'dream' move back into League football... 'The supporters, the hard-core support, have been fantastic but if we’re honest attendances have been poor [even] for a Conference North club', Bogie said. 'We can’t just continue to rely on Graham Wood to put his hand in his pocket. Yes, we’re struggling but we need the general public to back us... We have a big catchment area and if we can pick up those who don’t watch the area’s bigger clubs, or who can’t afford to, then that’s a help. We’re looking to progress to the Football League'".
According to the Cambridge News "The comings and goings at the Glass World Stadium look set to continue as Histon aim to reduce their wage bill for next season. Danny Naisbitt is the first big name not to agree a new contract for the 2010/11 season and boss Alan Lewer believes he may not be the last.
'We've got a situation now where we can't continue to pay the wages we have done', he said. 'I believe you'll see that come to the fore over the next few weeks. We've got to restructure the club so people have got a club to support. It's important the work starts now to bring in people for less money'.
Gareth Gwillim, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Lanre Oyebanjo, Danny Wright and Matt Langston are the only players remaining from the core squad that helped Histon reach the Blue Square Premier play-offs last year. Gwillim is the only one so far to have agreed a new deal for next year. Lewer continued: 'The backbone that took Histon over the past 10 years... has now got to turn around because if we started to pay the wages we were paying, there wouldn't be a football club... We've got to start gelling another squad together'".
From the Daily Echo we learn that "Aaron Martin has joined Salisbury City on a month’s loan from Southampton. The former England Schools centre-back signed for Saints from BS South side Eastleigh in November".
The Northants Evening Telegraph says that "Lee Harper is ready to make some changes when Kettering Town take on Grays Athletic... 'There are a few tired legs in the squad', Harper said. 'We had a player come to us at the start of the week and he told us he felt he was playing at 60 per cent at the moment. He held his hand up and said he would rather not play than be in the side and let the team down... This guy has played 35 games and that's not something he has done in the last four years. He needs a break so there will be at least one change'...
Harper will have a new face available to him as Nigerian striker Pascal Ebigbo looks set to seal his move to Rockingham Road on non-contract terms. Harper also confirmed he missed out on Ashford Town hotshot Byron Harrison..."because he felt he couldn't take the offer we put out there', the Poppies boss added".
From the Chester Chronicle we read that "As Chester City’s devastated fans face up to the realisation that they no longer have a team to support after 125 years of proud history, the question every heartbroken supporter wants answering is simple: What happens next?...
The Vaughan family have until the end of play tomorrow to launch an appeal against the decision which led to the Blues being expelled from the Football Conference last Friday... Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick last night confirmed to The Chronicle that no-one from the club had been in touch with the league, and given the fact that not a single City official bothered to show up to the meeting that sealed the club’s fate, an appeal would appear unlikely.
Less clear is the outcome of City’s appearance in the High Court next week. The debt-ridden company behind the club, Chester City FC 2004 Ltd, face a winding up order on Wednesday over an unpaid tax bill of £26,125... Stephen Vaughan Jnr [said he] would be doing everything he could to keep the club in business – which would mean settling the debt to the taxman. That would somewhat muddy the waters for City Fans United (CFU), the official supporters' group who want to reform the club...
CFU have this week put their business plan in place, unveiled plans for a loan scheme to boost their ‘war chest’, while continuing negotiations with Cheshire West and Chester Council in a bid to convince them they are the right people to take over the lease at the Deva Stadium. It has become patently clear that the authority, who are the landlords of the Deva, have lost patience with Chester City 2004 Ltd, who are understood to be behind in rent payments to the tune of £18,000...
The Chronicle understands two other parties, one being Welsh Premier League outfit The New Saints, have inquired about using the Deva next season...Chester Fans United’s membership has nearly doubled to 1,000 since the start of the year".
|
All three domains can be searched, separately, using the appropriate Google search box below. Make sure you check the correct button beneath each search box.
I am sorry that this is a bit messy but eventually I will get everything into just one domain. However, the above method does allow you to find everything on the site which has appeared since Spring 2000.
Copyright 1999 to date: ©
Compiled by John
Laidlar
Counter at 1/1/2002: 69,547
At 1/1/2003: 178,589
At 1/1/2004: 296,757
At 1/1/2005: 456,114
At 1/1/2006: 697,566
At 1/1/2007: 1,001,771
At 1/1/2008: 1,385,722
At 1/1/2009: 2,036,148
At 1/1/2010: 2,648,522
