Longhurst parts company with Deres after just eighteen days

Saturday 03rd April 2010

MATT LONGHURST has parted company with Erith & Belvedere today - after just three matches and EIGHTEEN DAYS in charge of the beleaguered club, writes Stephen McCartney.

In what has appeared to be a constant revolving door with numerous players, coaches and managers coming and going throughout this season, Longhurst was promoted from assistant manager to become the club’s third manager of the season, following Richie Radbourne’s decision to resign on Sunday, 14 March, shortly after the club announced that they had cut their playing budget.

The club officially appointed Longhurst as first team manager a couple of days later, but his short reign has been nothing short of disastrous, as the Deres were crushed by three clubs that also don’t pay their players, Holmesdale (4-1), Corinthian (1-0) and today’s 6-1 home defeat to bottom-of-the-table Lordswood (where Richard Dimmock helped himself to four goals) proved to be the final straw.

The club are expected to issue a statement on Sunday, but according to Longhurst’s website notes before the humilating home defeat, the writing was on the wall.

“It has been a tough time over recent weeks and I am being personally attacked on certain websites and by supporters,” Longhurst told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk on April Fools Day.

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

“We know there have been too many changes and if it was Christmas, I’d be confident with the squad we have here. And keeping some of the better players that have left the club, we would have been able to have a real go.

“I’m not going to name names, but certain players have left this club without giving their all and they know who they are. Whether that was because they didn’t want to play for the manager, each other or be paid, those are the kind of things that can make life as a manager so frustrating.

“The club had a budget last season and finished 8th. With many of the players that have now departed, we have two players in the squad that have, after Saturday, played 100 games for the club. Also, in Tommy Martin, Ryan Royston, Luke May, Danny Beszant, Aaron Ageyman, Sam May and Jon Neal, we have players who have all played at a higher level. Plus, we have some very good youngsters at this club, with one in particular already interesting Football League clubs!

“I have managed to sign three players this week, to strengthen the squad until the end of the season. Aaron Smith has arrived from Chipstead, in the Ryman League, who is a midfielder. Sam Keevil, who is also a midfielder, has lots of experience in non league football higher up the pyramid. And Lee Barnett also arrives, a forward from Thamesmead Town. All three are doing me a personal favour, playing for nothing, to try and improve results.

“We know little about next season as yet and are working as hard as we can, with no budget, to get a decent team out. There are lots of things we could blame for the recent run of poor results and one of them is the quality isn't good enough in the first team.

“I accept that and have worked so hard to improve it. I hope the genuine supporters can see this and know that March is not an ideal time to try and change things, but I know, given the opportunity, myself and Neil could really do well here. It's a good club with bags of potential but we need to find the right formula to get the club challenging for honours.

“The transfer window is now closed so this is the squad for the remaining 6 games. Let's get behind the lads and see where we end up. As hard as it is, I'm not a quitter and I'll keep working hard until the end of the season and see if we can manage to achieve a higher placed finish than last year under what are, difficult circumstances.”

The club are a sorry ninth place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with nine wins and six draws from their 25 league games - have to act swiftly to appoint a new manager as the beleaguered club travel to second-placed side Herne Bay on Easter Monday and the new manager will only have five games to salvage some pride for the club's long-suffering supporters.

Quotes courtesy of www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk