Deres appoint Royston and Hunter until the end of the season

Sunday 04th April 2010

ERITH & BELVEDERE have put defender Ryan Royston and current coach Neil Hunter in temporary charge for their last five games of the season, following the decision to part company with manager Matt Longhurst by “mutual consent” yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Longhurst was in charge for only EIGHTEEN DAYS following Richie Radbourne’s decision to resign and the Deres suffered defeats to Holmesdale (4-1), Corinthian (1-0) before basement side Lordswood turned them over 6-1 at Park View Road yesterday.

Longhurst - who was Radbourne’s coach - faced the wrath from long-suffering supporters, and admitted in his website notes to www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk on April Fools Day that he was under-fire from a section of the club’s supporters, who are upset with how the season has turned out.

He said: “It has been a tough time over recent weeks and I am being personally attacked on certain websites and by supporters.

“We have no news on what the future holds and myself and Neil are working tirelessly to keep the season alive, for the sake of our supporters.”

The decision to part company with the much-travelled Longhurst was made following yesterday’s humiliating home defeat to a Lordswood side that had only beaten Sporting Bengal United twice in 24 league games before yesterday.

However, the Lords’ performances have picked up since the arrival of the highly-respected pairing of Jason Lillis and John Guest.

Giant target-man, Richard Dimmock, did the damage, scoring four of the six goals in what turned out to be Longhurst’s last game in charge of the beleaguered Welling based club.

“It was just a matter of time before we gave some one a good beating,” Guest told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“If you look at the results we have drawn a lot of games, so we have been conceding very few goals, but did not score at the other end, hence the arrival of Richard Dimmock.

“Things are taking shape now, we just need to find the consistency for next season. We are well pleased with the effort from all the players.”

A statement issued on the official club website by Erith & Belvedere today, insisted Longhurst has left the club because of results.

“A dismal run of form has seen the Deres slip down to ninth in the Bulmers Cider Kent Football League table and without a victory since January 2nd,” said the statement.

“We would like to thank Matt for the tremendous amount of time, effort and hard work that he put in trying to change the football club’s fortunes, sadly to no avail.

“We wish Matt well with his future career and know that he will be back in semi-professional football very soon.

“Neil Hunter and Ryan Royston will take temporary control of team affairs for the time being while the club decide on a permanent manager.”

Big central defender Royston has turned out for Erith Town and the Deres in the Kent League this season and has also played for the likes of Tonbridge Angels, Maidstone United, Thamesmead Town and Cray Wanderers.

When Radbourne, 30, resigned last month, he cited that the club were looking for a manager, who could put his hand into his pocket to find the team.

The Deres cut their playing budget before Radbourne decided to step down.

“If I do something, I do it 100%,” Radbourne told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his departure.

“I had a plan of two or three years where I wanted to take the club. The club are looking for an investor to put money into the club - and I can’t produce that for them.”

Hunter and Royston’s first game in charge cannot come any harder as they travel to second-placed Herne Bay on Easter Monday.

Herne Bay have a slim chance of catching Faversham Town to land the title and manager Simon Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he wants his side to claim three points over the troubled Deres, after grinding out a 2-1 victory at Holmesdale on Good Friday.

“Whether Erith & Belvedere are on the boil, I’m not really concerned,” said Halsey. “All I’m really concerned is that we get back on the boil and do the business.

“We’ve done well for the first six months of the season. I’m disappointed, the lads are disappointed how we’re playing at the moment - and I know they are!

“I’m not really worried about Erith & Belvedere, what their problems are. It’s important on Monday that we get back to playing football, doing the right things.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Herne Bay v Erith & Belvedere

Bulmers Cider Kent League

Easter Monday 5th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Winch’s Field, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG