Yorath quits Margate: I couldn't get enough out of my players

TERRY YORATH has resigned as the manager of Ryman Premier League strugglers Margate, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

The Welsh legend joined the Hartsdown Park club as director of football in June 2008.  He subsequently took over as manager following the departure of Barry Ashby in October that year and the club went on to finish fourth-bottom in the division, although escaped relegation due to Fisher Athletic’s demise in Blue Square South.

Margate are presently in the bottom-four with a record of three wins and a draw from their opening nine games and were knocked out of the FA Cup in a replay at Sutton United in the first qualifying round.

The club has confirmed that Yorath’s assistant, Neville Southall, will take charge of team affairs for tomorrow’s home game against AFC Hornchurch, which has been brought forward due to the two side’s elimination from the FA Cup.

Margate won their last game under Yorath’s reign – a 2-1 win at Hendon on Tuesday night, but the 59-year-old decided to quit the Thanet club last night.

A club statement, issued on the club’s official website www.margate-fc.com said, “It is with regret that Margate Football Club announces the resignation of Terry Yorath as first team manager.

“The club would like to put on record its thanks to Terry for his work at Margate.

“A further announcement will be made about the manager’s position in due course.”

Yorath appeared to be dissatisfied with his players following last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Horsham, as he came to terms that players at Ryman Premier League level couldn’t match his own very high standards to what he has been used to during his playing days at clubs such as Leeds United.

“If you look back to last Tuesday night (against Sutton United), when the players did ever so well, they were unlucky to lose the game, and a completely different Margate here today,” he said in an audio interview with www.margatefc-com.

“It shocked me a little bit – the way we couldn’t pass the ball, the way we couldn’t win things.

“At this moment in time, I’m really, really disappointed because the things that they show you on Tuesday, they don’t show you here on a Saturday.

“If I thought they were bad players, then I’d try and get rid of them. But I don’t  think they’re bad players.  I said to them in the dressing room, I’ve got to look at myself and see if I’m not getting enough out of them.  Today I definitely didn’t get enough out of them.”

He added: “At the end of the day, it’s down to me.  I’ve got to make the decisions on who plays, who doesn’t play and what system we play.”

Margate supporters had called for Yorath’s head on internet fans’ forums, following a disastrous start to the new season.
A section of supporters have called for former Margate manager Chris Kinnear to return to Hartsdown Park, although some suggest that versatile veteran midfielder John Keister – who has recently returned to the club following a successful time at Dover Athletic - should be handed the player-manager’s role.

Meanwhile, Margate were pleased to announce earlier in the week that they have successfully negotiated an additional 56 days to pay the balance of the outstanding HMRC account having paid the £15,000 previously lodged with their solicitors.

“We have satisfied the Court that funding is in place to repay the balance of the debt,” added a club statement.

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com

Margate  v  AFC Hornchurch
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 26^th September 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ