Haywards Heath Town part company with boss Shaun Saunders despite sitting in play-off zone and seven games unbeaten

HAYWARDS HEATH Town chairman Steven Isherwood has made the surprise decision to part company with manager Shaun Saunders with the club sitting in fifth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table.

 

Director of football Nick Levett will take charge as caretaker manager until a permanent manager is found and will take charge of tomorrow’s home tie against Ashford United in the Velocity Trophy Third Round.

“The club has taken the decision to relieve the manager Shaun Saunders of his duties this afternoon,” Isherwood said in a club statement.

“We have an enormous amount of respect for Shaun and all the work he has put in this season and for the past six years.

“This decision has been incredibly difficult to make, especially taking this history that we have together and the impact he has made into account.

“The club are in with a good chance of promotion this season and the decision has been made as we strive for consistency in the run-in.

“We wish Shaun the very best in the future and put on record our thanks for everything that he has done for the club.”

Haywards Heath Town have banked 43 points from their 23 league games, collecting 12 wins and five draws and are one of six sides vying for promotion.

Hastings United are top of the pile with 50 points from 24 games, while the four play-off places are occupied by Ashford United (46 points from 23 games), Ramsgate (44 points from 23 games), Cray Valley (43 points from 23 games) and Haywards Heath Town (43 points from 23 games).

Herne Bay remain in sixth-place with 41 points from 22 games but they slipped up to a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Ashford United at the weekend.

Tommy Warrilow’s side welcome Hastings United to Homelands Stadium on Saturday 29 January (15:00).

Haywards Heath Town fought back from being 2-0 down to beat Ashford United 3-2 at Homelands on 15 January, but they were held to a goal-less draw at home to Lancing at the weekend.

They are unbeaten in their last seven games but have won only twice during that spell.

Meanwhile, Ashford United have been fined £500 for not fulfilling their league fixture at East Grinstead Town on 28 December due to a covid-19 outbreak at the club at the time.

STORY UPDATE - 28 January 2022
Haywards Heath Town have appointed former South Park manager Martin Dynan and his assistant Justin Fevrier as their new management team.

Visit Haywards Heath Town's website: www.hhtfc.co.uk