EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT FROM CLIVE WALKER - AND REACTION FROM ASHFORD TOWN CO-OWNER

www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you an EXCLUSIVE statement issued by Clive Walker, following his shock departure from Ashford Town Football Club this week - and a response from Mr Don Crosbie, the club's co-owner.

Last Updated:  23:00 Thursday 1st November 2007

Statement issued by Mr Clive Walker - published EXCLUSIVELY by www.kentishfootball.co.uk.


“In response to all the phone calls from players and managers around Kent as well as the supporters of Ashford Town FC I feel the need to express my feelings about the way the situation of my departure was handled and defend myself against claims made by the club.

“The situation was that Tuesday night I arrived at the home game vs Whitstable and carried out my duties as normal and was obviously delighted with the 3-1 win and performance.

“Once the game had finished I went into the boardroom and everybody was talking about how well the game had gone, when we were next going to train and the next game which was against Chipstead in a weeks time.

“On arriving home I had received a couple of phone calls from family and friends who work at Chatham Town FC and my son Karl also had an email saying that he should look at the Sittingbourne website, which he did and where we read that Steve Lovell had resigned to become the new manager of Ashford Town.

“Next day the phone didn’t stop ringing with people saying that Radio Kent had announced it and also found that it was all over the internet but I still hadn’t been informed and this was the same for the whole day.

“I met Don Crosbie last night and still wasn’t told officially that I was not manager of Ashford Town and no new role hadn’t been spoken about or even offered to me and this is still the case today.

“On Radio Kent this morning I was shocked to hear that I had stepped down due to ill health and hadn’t been sacked. This is strange as I am fit and healthy after my operation 10 months ago and Don knew this before offering me a 2 year contract in the summer.

“After being beaten by Leyton 4-1 at home in the FA Trophy I was very down and was naturally disappointed with the performance of my team, I did speak to Don and said “Don something has to be done about the situation and atmosphere at this football club” to which he replied to give it a couple of days and we shall talk about it then.”

“The next time we spoke to each other was 3 days ago on Monday before the Whitstable game. With the aim of consolidation this season and not to worry about promotion until next season.  I feel that I have done a good job in leading the team to 9th position and we are only 4 points of the play-off places with 30 games to go, which is the best start Ashford have had for a while.

“I would like to thank the players, backroom staff and supporters of Ashford Town FC for the support and commitment they have given me during my time at the club and wish them well for the future.

“All I ask now is for the football club to honour the agreement of compensation as agreed at the meeting last night and for everybody to be allowed to move on.”

Statement issued by Mr Don Crosbie, co-owner of Ashford Town Football Club (published on the fans' forum at www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk).



”I have read Clive Walker’s press release and must say how disappointed I am at the inaccuracy and lack of honesty with his statement.

“Clive was very distraught after the Leyton match as well as his wife whom all saw sobbing in the club house she asked for Clive to be paid up and they would go.

“Clearly this is unacceptable behaviour in the club and everyone felt for Clive.

"Clive said to me he needed help and apologised for things in general.

“I genuinely felt for him and his wife and all around mentioned the worries about their health and well being.

“It was not the following Monday that of the Whitstable game that I spoke to Clive as he stated but a couple of days after the Leyton game.

“I told Clive that the club had taken on board Clive’s plea and was bringing in someone else and that I would look after him which is what he asked me to do after the Leyton game.

“Clive knew full well then that the club was bringing in someone to stop the rot. He was told to release Steve Nolan and that we also wanted to address other issues that had come to the clubs notice, that of certain players who had put in or wanted transfers.

“Clearly there were problems but we as a club never blamed Clive for the dressing room problems and he was not sacked.

“Clive was to continue coaching with Steve Lovell as manager but for obvious reasons Steve Lovell could not be identified as the man being brought in till he had settled his contract with Sittingbourne.

“I think Clive should appreciate that the club contractully owes him nothing and he is relying on my generosity and kindness to receive any pay off.

“After reading Clive’s statement I shall obviously take a different view of that generosity and will pass the matter to my legal team to address.

“I understand Clive may be feeling down and dejected but my job is to protect and look after the interests of Ashford Town Football Club and I will do that come what may.

“I will be making a full and detailed press statement soon but I thought the true and loyal fans of Ashford Town Football Club should be in receipt of some facts relating to Ashford Town Football Club’s handling of the situation before it gets out of hand.”