To all hovering vultures there is not a managerial vacancy at Greenwich Borough, insists Gerry Cox

GREENWICH BOROUGH boss Gerry Cox has issued a hands-off warning to people who want his job, writes Stephen McCartney.


Borough suffered their fourteenth league defeat of the season when they lost 5-1 to Holmesdale in the tenants-versus-landlords battle at Oakley Road yesterday afternoon.

They took an early lead through leading goalscorer Matiea Ramsamy, who took his tally to five for the season, but Holmesdale claimed the local bragging rights with five goals.

Greenwich Borough remain rooted to the basement of the Kent Hurlimann Football League table, with just one win and three draws from their eighteen games.

And Cox, who is joint-manager alongside John Cumberbatch, whose son Marc plays for Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town, insists the pair of them will not throw in the towel.

He said: “To all hovering vultures there is not a managerial vacancy at Greenwich Borough Football Club – nor will there be in the foreseeable future so don’t’ worry about phoning or sending your CVs in!”

Cox added: “Obviously we’re working on and off the field at the moment to improve the situation.   Our results are not good, but even yesterday, we lost 5-1, again, we’ve lost count how many times we’ve taken the lead in a game and we just can’t hold on to it.

“We’re confident in a short space of time we can turn it around.

“That’s why it annoys me when these people phone up to see if there’s a mangers job as I doubt their experience is anywhere near – or coaching qualifications - of myself and John have got.

“Perhaps other committees should look at what we’re doing at Greenwich Borough because we do with what we do with no money at all.  They’re paying money out to mediocre players and there’s no team in this league apart from (current leaders) Herne Bay who could stand a chance in the Ryman League.”

With only twelve league games remaining, Cox says he wants his side to begin climbing the league table with a more settled squad of players.

“Devon Hanson, our chairman, is working quite hard off the scenes to improve matters off the field,” added Cox.

“It’s taken time up until Christmas to eke out players who their talent is good enough but their attitude isn’t good enough.  We’re getting a group of boys’ around us and we’ll push on from here.

“It’s not about this season.   It makes me laugh when people phone up.  I don’t think there’s anybody to turn the group of boys’ that we’ve had until now that could have done any different to what we have done.

“I’m confident in my ability and I’m confident in John’s ability and I’m confident in Devon achieving off the field for us as well.

“I just get a little bit frustrated as people are looking at our results and thinking it’s no good.  It’s not all doom and gloom down there.  We’re moving in the right direction and in the last couple of weeks some of our players we’ve got, if you look into our results we’re not that far away from clubs who are paying an extortionate amount of money.

They travel to Sevenoaks Town in their next game next Monday and a win over Darren Anslow’s side will close the gap to just two points to the side directly above them.

Cox said: “Sevenoaks beat us 3-0 at home in September and I think Darren is doing exactly the same as us – he’s trying to work with a very young squad with limited resource.

“I think it will be a good football match.  Obviously we’re looking to overturn them beating us at home so we can only go from there.

“The aim is to consolidate a nice squad and look to improve our league position but it’s about consolidating and getting a good core ready for next season.”

Sevenoaks Town suffered a 2-0 defeat to neighbours Tunbridge Wells at Culverden Stadium yesterday – former Woodstock target-man Andy Irvine scoring twice.

Just like Cox, Sevenoaks’ assistant manager, Martin Barnard, wants to get the New Year off to a winning start.

“This month we’ve been unbeaten up until yesterday so it looks like we’ll have to start again (against Greenwich Borough) next Monday,” said Barnard.

“They’re a good side, a very young side as well, who try to play.  It will be a good football game, even though it’s at Sevenoaks.”

Reflecting on their 3-0 win over Greenwich Borough back in September, Barnard said: “Matt Bailey, in goal, was absolutely outstanding that game.  If it wasn’t for him it might have been slightly different.”

When asked what his club’s aspirations are for their remaining thirteen league games of the season, Barnard said: “Just to get as many points as possible, keep learning and keep playing the right way.

“We can’t win the league this year so we’ll just learn as much as we can, give these boys more experience and keep trying to play the right way.

“We are a young side. We do have a bit of experience.   When we started the season I can’t recall anyone being over 22-years-of-age so we’ve got a couple of older heads in there but we like them all.  They’re good players and it’s just a matter of getting it all right.

“We’ve changed two or three teams this year so it’s just coming together.  I know it’s funny saying that especially as we’ve just lost but we see a lot with what we’ve got.”

Barnard added: “It’s not for the want of trying, working very hard in training and I’m sure we can only go onwards and upwards.”

STAT ATTACK:
Greenwich Borough’s leading goalscorer is five-goal Matiea Ramsamy.
Greenwich Borough have now gone fourteen league games without a win – which was a 1-0 away win over landlords Holmesdale back in August.
Greenwich Borough have claimed just one point at home this season – but they have picked up five points on their travels.
Holmesdale’s leading goalscorer is striker Steven Strotten, who has scored fourteen goals this season.
Sevenoaks Town’s leading goalscorer is six-goal striker, Richmond Kissi.
Sevenoaks Town have gone six league games without a win.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Sevenoaks Town  v  Greenwich Borough
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Monday 2^nd January 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Greatness Park, Seal Road, Mill Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent