Kentish Football 
Our days are numbered at Sittingbourne, admits boss Gary Abbott
Monday 28th March 2011
SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says his days and those of his assistant Richard Brady are numbered - when the club is taken over by former Manchester City, Crystal Palace and West Ham United star Michael Hughes, writes Stephen McCartney.
The pair have worked wonders during their time at Bourne Park and after their playing budget was cut 100% in January, Brady (who runs the Academy at Dartford) has blooded his youngsters in at the Ryman League Division One South club.
Seven youngsters featured during the 1-0 home win over basement side Horsham YMCA at the weekend club secretary John Pitts wrote his in programme notes that Hughes’ take-over is a on the cards.
“Negotiations are reaching an advanced stage,” said Mr Pitts.
“Suffice to say whatever the outcome is, there will be a Sittingbourne Football Club next season. We are in no worse a state financially when we were a year ago but we felt that something had to be done to tackle the (£20,000) deficit even if it is a fraction of many other clubs at our level.”
After the game, Abbott was asked about the take-over and he is constant discussions with current chairman Andy Spice, who has kept the Bourne Park club afloat.
“I spoke to Andy the other day and nothing’s happened, so we’re just carrying on like normal,” said Abbott.
“I’m sure something will happen in the next month or so before the end of the season but we’ll just get on with it.
“Obviously I’m thinking that my job’s not going to be here because he (Hughes) wants to be involved and if he wants to be involved he’s not going to sit back and watch us, is he?
“He’ll want to bring his own players in and he wants to be manager, so in my head if there’s a takeover my days are probably numbered.”
If he is relieved of his duties, Abbott will be on the look out for a new managerial role.
Rainham based Abbott said: “I’d like to think me and Richard have overachieved during the three years we’ve been here. We can deservedly say we’ve overachieved and if it was to end there’s not a lot I can do about it really.
“If there’s other jobs out there obviously I want another job. I want to stay in it. Me and Richard want another job if we’re not here at the end of the season with Sittingbourne.”
The budget cut has put paid to the club’s play-off aspirations and Abbott takes his youngsters to fourth-placed Leatherhead on Tuesday night.
“Do you know what, we’ve never said about the play-off’s because we’re too young,” admitted Abbott.
“We’re not going to get into the play-off’s, we knew that, but my aim now and the boys’ aim is to finish top ten. If we finish top ten with the team we’ve got for the last six games we’ll be over the moon with that and any higher, if it did happen, what a story that would be!
“Obviously I’d love it to happen but I’m being realistic. I can’t see it happening but everyone’s going to get beat and everyone’s going to be fighting for their lives and we’ll be fighting as well to finish as high as we can.”
Abbott wants his side to play to their best ability at Leatherhead on Tuesday night.
“We’ll just go there and we’ll try and get what we can out of it,” he said.
“There’s no pressure on us to go to Leatherhead. They’re going for the play-off’s, we knew they’re a tough side, but we have to go there Tuesday and work hard and if we do that, who knows what’s going to happen?
“We’ve kept three clean sheets in four as well, so you’ve got to look at that as well, our good defensive displays. We’ll just go there and we’ll just try and get what we can.”
Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk
Leatherhead v Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 29th March 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Fetcham Grove, Guildford Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9AS
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd