Morgan steps down from Herne Bay over fundamental disagreement over tactics and team selection

BARRY MORGAN has this morning stepped down as the manager of Herne Bay – despite just winning the Bulmers Cider Kent League manager-of-the-month award for October, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

The Winch’s Field outfit are presently in fourth place in the table, with a record of six wins and a draw from their first ten league games, but Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at runaway league leaders, Faversham Town, proved to be the final straw for Morgan.

Chairman, John Bathurst, announced this morning that Morgan has left the club.

“This follows talks between the two over the weekend, talks which ended with a fundamental disagreement over the tactics and team selection,” said a club statement.

“It left Morgan in an untenable position and he felt he had no option other than to step down as manager.

“Barry and the club part on good terms with no feelings and we wish him well for his future in football.”

Morgan’s assistant manager, Simon Halsey, who guided neighbours Whitstable Town to the Kent League title and two successive 50 point finishes in Ryman League Division One South but quit the Belmont Road club after Marc Seager stood down just minutes after the final game of last season, has taken over as new manager today.

Halsey, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, paid tribute to the departing Morgan.

“I would just like to thank him for taking me to the club and what a great job he has done, sitting in fourth place in the league and in all cup competitions.

“The reserves are in good shape, so he leaves the club in good shape.”

Halsey’s first game in sole charge of the side will be the FA Carlsberg Vase tie against Hellenic League outfit Flackwell Heath at Winch’s Field this coming Saturday.

Herne Bay are eleven points behind league leaders Faversham Town.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Herne Bay  v  Flackwell Heath
FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round
Saturday 14^th November 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG