Erith & Belvedere part company with interim manager Stuart Webb after four heavy defeats

ERITH & BELVEDERE have parted company with interim manager Stuart Webb after four games in charge of the struggling club.

 

Webb took charge after manager Owen Jones and his entire squad quit the Park View Road club on Sunday 26 January 2020.

The Deres suffered heavy defeats to Lordswood (0-4); K Sports (0-7); Welling Town (7-2); and the writing was on the wall that a change was needed when promotion-chasing Chatham Town came away from Park View Road with an 8-1 win last Tuesday night.

Webb admitted during his post-match interview that “Personally, I’m under no fear of losing the job.  I’d love to take it but even I know that I’m not at that standard yet where a club like this needs a manager to be.”

It was the first time that Erith & Belvedere conceded eight goals in a home game.

A club statement said: “Erith & Belvedere FC wish to acknowledge the great job done by caretaker manager Stuart Webb in February.

“A Dere through and through, he was firefighting through a chaotic period when results were less important than keeping the club going in very difficult circumstances.

“We will be forever grateful to Stuart for steering the ship through some muddy waters and he should never need to buy a drink at Park View Road again.

“An announcement on a new permanent manager will be made shortly.”

Director Paul Springett, who made 144 appearances for the club between 2020 and 2016, who watched his new charges for the first time against Chatham Town, added: “I can’t express enough thanks to Stuart Webb for his work, commitment and the time he has put into Erith & Belvedere as caretaker manager.

“It’s never easy this football thing. He is a real football guy.  Forever grateful for what you have done when everyone else quit.”

The club are second-from-bottom in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 19 points from their 26 games, level on points with the side below them in the table, Crowborough Athletic.

Erith & Belvedere travel to second-placed side Corinthian on Tuesday 3 March (19:45).

The club have made a number of new signings including goalkeeper Luke Colqhoun, Dean Carpenter, James Hawkins, Rory Hill, Ryan James, Chris Page, Louis Sprossen, all putting pen to paper, while centre-half Steven Sprigett made his return against Chatham Town.

The club have also said that they have received 30 applications for the job, one which requires the manager to work with one of the smallest budgets in the league.

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