Steve O'Boyle: It has given me the motivation to manage again

STEVE O’BOYLE says he has the motivation to return to football management after suffering a kick in the teeth after tasting his first relegation with Greenwich Borough.

O’Boyle and Steve Sallis stepped down as joint-managers of relegated side Greenwich Borough today and the club acted swiftly by appointing their assistant Ben Kotey.

Greenwich Borough return to the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division next season after finishing bottom of the Bostik South East Division after three seasons at that level.

The club confirmed today that they will be hiring Phoenix Sports ground at Mayplace Road East in Barnehurst next season.

The joint-managers have both left the club after failing in their attempt to keep the club up against all odds.

The pair were in charge for 15 games and won three, drawn five and lost seven games but it was a three point deduction that sealed their fate, as Guernsey maintained their league status by finishing three points clear of the Borough.

The club were deducted three points due to fielding an ineligible player just three days before their final game of the season, at home to play-off chasing Hastings United, which ultimately cost the club their Isthmian League status.

The game in question was a 2-0 home win over Hythe Town on Saturday 16 February.

“As I said in my interview when I first took over at Greenwich Borough, I was only there until the end of the season,” said O’Boyle.

“We had a massive job on our hands being bottom and seven points adrift.  Ninety per cent of the squad had to be replaced.  We needed points and points quickly!

“We improved the squad and also our league position, putting teams above us under pressure.

“The penultimate week of the season we managed to climb out of the relegation zone.  As you can imagine our players, along with myself and everyone in the changing room were celebrating this achievement.

“However, on the Wednesday night as we were preparing for the last game of the season, we got the devastating news that we had been deducted three points for an admin error.

“This was a massive kick in the teeth to everyone at the club, especially the players.

“The deduction was from the game against Hythe Town at home, a game where we were fantastic and deserved the three points on the day.

“The timing couldn’t have been any worse.  I was under the impression that we appealed the decision because The FA hadn’t charged us, they only gave the club a warning.

“Sadly, the club hadn’t appealed the decision, which if I’m honest, I found quite hard to take.

“We were now back in the relegation zone with one game left. We were playing a team that were in the top three, needing points themselves.

“We had to win the game and hope now that Guernsey lose so it was a tough ask.  Unfortunately, we didn’t pull off the great escape and were relegated.

“What I will say is that myself, Steve Sallis, Ben Kotey, Phil Legg and Tony Potts gave everything we had to try and keep Greenwich Borough up in the Bostik League.

“I would like to thank of them for all their efforts, they were fantastic and a pleasure to work alongside.

“We can talk about the points deduction and a lot of-the-field problems as much as you like but there will be no excuses from me.

“I enjoyed my brief spell at the club and thank Luke and Serena for the opportunity.  It has given me the motivation to manage again.

“The club go into a very competitive Southern Counties East Football League next season looking to consolidate and stabilise the club after a very hard year on and especially off the pitch.

“This has to be their priority next season so the management team in the future can just concentrate on winning football matches.

“I honestly wish them all the best in the future, they are a good club with a lot of history.

“I would like to congratulate Ben Kotey on becoming the new manager of the club. He is such a lovely man, a good coach and has a great knowledge of the game.

“He is definitely the right man for the job and I’m so pleased the club have given him the opportunity.”

Visit Greenwich Borough’s website: www.greenwichboroughfc.co.uk