Still reeling somewhat from the resignation of erstwhile boss Terry White, and on the back of a four match losing sequence, the U's have suffered another blow today with the news that Club captain Frankie Sawyer has decided to quit the Pilot Field and return to one of his former employers, Tooting & Mitcham United.
Despite his affection for the Club and supporters, Sawyer has expressed the view that he has simply not been enjoying his football this season and that the time has come to end his third spell at the Pilot Field. The popular striker has been a little short of top form and full fitness during the early stages of the campaign, but even so, he leaves as United's current joint top scorer, with four goals from thirteen appearances.
His departure will clearly increase the demands on Ade Olorunda and Kenny Pogue to fire the U's away from the relegation zone, whilst also perhaps giving Bright Temba a chance to step up, along with the newly re-signed Jamie Crone, who scored for the Under 21s on his return this evening.
Nigel Kane will continue to take caretaker charge of First Team affairs when the U's visit Three Bridges on Saturday afternoon. Interviews with the short-listed candidates to replace White have now concluded though, and the Club aims to make an announcement to confirm his permanent successor early next week.
In his programme notes for Monday's home match against Folkestone Invicta, Dave Walters accepted that the turnover of managers during his tenure as Chairman has been too high, albeit also observing that this is sadly endemic at all levels of the game these days.
In an effort to expand the breadth of view involved in the selection process on this occasion, the Board of Directors took the surely unprecedented step of inviting other individuals to review the various CVs received in application for the vacant post, with Barrie West and the current Supporters' Club Chairman, Steve Thorpe, attending all of the subsequent interviews. The Club very much hopes that enlisting this additional support in ultimately reaching a decision over the appointment will assist its desire to bring some much needed stability to the managerial position.
Gutted ain't the word, as I previously said I think he's just playing with injuries and out of form. Clearly Terry had a big affect on him coming in the first place and keeping him in the summer. Ade & Ken can't do the job on their own so Temba needs a chance at least or Sam Adams needs to play just off Ade or kenny. New striker likely required too!
Why wasn't he enjoying it? That is a key question and are there others I would expect there are, and is this any different to trevor, Sean and Kenny s departures .Think we are starting to see a theme and its not the manager, as surely Frankie would have waited to see who it was.
-- Edited by ChrisB on Friday 3rd of October 2014 06:22:19 AM
He's been injured and out of form, no ones going to enjoy that, Terry leaving is prob the main reason as he brought him here and kept him in summer. He did get a lot of grief too.
If you are insinuating that it's the chairman - which I think is pretty much what you are saying, then why would Frankie play for the club 3 times under the same one? That doesn't make sense to me.
Money? What on earth are you on about? Tooting is round the corner from where he lives so that as well as the departure of the boss that brought him here is the likeliest reason.
Sorry Dan how do you want me to explain it in simple terms if you were offered twice as much to do a similar job but had to travel a little bit more would you? And yes I only know what he was offered last season not this.
Sad to see he is leaving Hastings and the reasons will be out some day i think; injuries, travelling and the leaving of Terry seems very plausible. But being a captain of the team i regret his decision .
You keep editing it and speaking so vaguely it's hard to know what your ever really saying.
Having spoken to Frankie just now over many messages on twitter this morning I know why he's left and he wanted to apologise to the fans for leaving and his missing of chances early on which shows the nature of the bloke. Football reasons and personal reasons is the best summary of his return to Tooting. Don't think he has to apologise to anyone as he has always tried his best.
Once again he confirmed that the travel down from London although not main reason didn't help ( especially with his back injury ) which is something that this club is cursed with as previously mentioned.
Don't really think anyone will blame Frankie, but is it really any different to Trevor leaving last year, and as Frankie was club captain it may be worse.
He knows people will see it like that but for Frankie I think it was a much much harder decision for Frankie to leave ( particularly to leave the fans he knows ) than it was for Trevor.
Trevor went publically on record he blamed Terry, why is there always without fail something other than what is reported with you Chris? You always say that there is something else. I spoke to Frankie last night and he said the same as Dan has said here.
Think the difference is a player leaving for personal reasons is just that and I don't blame them at all, whereas some of you seem to blame some and find it acceptable from others. Anyway you might get a surprising post from me later !!!
Sad to see Frankie leave. I commuted to London from Hastings for nine years, and didn't have to play non-league football on top,aand I can tell you it is hard on your back.
Frankie has given his reasons to several people Chris, so why invent a story just to have a snide attack at the Board. You say you know what he was earning, who told you. Start putting facts and not innuendo if you want people to listen to what you say. As I said before I stood up for your right to post. I will not support lies and half truths.
We paid him what we had to do to get him initially, I'm sure it wasn't particularly cheap but was one the best strikers in the league & without his goals last season we would have not made even the playoffs, we then had to match what he was offered in the summer to retain what was considered by everyone a major part of the team. At least that money can be re-invested now.
Dan I know that, but Steve accused me of lying so I will have to tell him or he will continue to accuse me of lying, which I am sure he isn't allowed to do, but he seems not to get warnings.
Gutted he's gone we need to get our season underway kenny will be back tomorrow so hopefully he can bang some goals in we also need a back up goalkeeper as I don't feel pelling can play 40+ games
Very sad to see Frankie go. Yes he had a very average season and was clearly carrying a knock or two but would much rather have him than not. One thing I will say about Frankie is at every away game, whatever the result, he was always the first player, and sometimes the only player, to come over and applaud the fans. Top bloke along with his old man and he will be sorely missed. Watch this space as I think there may well be more following in the coming weeks.
There is absolutely no way Ade can play every game, Kenny is still way off full fitness and has not yet hit the heights of last season and Bright is young, inexperienced and raw. We must get another striker in and quick.
In his programme notes for Monday's home match against Folkestone Invicta, Dave Walters accepted that the turnover of managers during his tenure as Chairman has been too high, albeit also observing that this is sadly endemic at all levels of the game these days.
In an effort to expand the breadth of view involved in the selection process on this occasion, the Board of Directors took the surely unprecedented step of inviting other individuals to review the various CVs received in application for the vacant post, with Barrie West and the current Supporters' Club Chairman, Steve Thorpe, attending all of the subsequent interviews. The Club very much hopes that enlisting this additional support in ultimately reaching a decision over the appointment will assist its desire to bring some much needed stability to the managerial position.
This is imo a very big step in trying to change things for the better. The Cross Point in the other topic seems to have a direction now ! What i mean is that Steve and Barrie, without doubt very respected men and Hastings trough and through are invited by the board for their opinion and there for have a bigger support for the new manager to come.
The voice of some of the best volunteers we have in the club in this is not only a bigger support in the club for crucial decisions which have to be made but also a true Thank You for Barrie and Steve.
The club is in a difficult situation but Well Done for this and a very positive move imo.
-- Edited by BertNEC on Friday 3rd of October 2014 11:01:55 AM
The new manager whoever he is will have to quickly establish who is committed to and capable of playing for this club this season and hopefully beyond. Some players who have under performed to date will have to show that they can turn it around fast.
The squad is certainly thin in certain positions so these need sorting ASAP and the confidence needs to be raised almost immediately, can happen with new managers coming in with different styles so can only hope that is the case straight away.
I very much agree with what Bert has had to say above concerning the club's decision to involve Barrie and Steve in the selection process for the new manager. This is a positive move by the club and one which we should all welcome and support.
Yep, both certainly know their football!, plus having a yearly elected supporters representative helping select a manager must surely be a encouraging step in the right direction in involving the fan base from Rogers point of view as well in regard to his previous post?
From Tooting Web Site, Frankie says
"I'm really happy to have rejoined the club I should never have left back in February. I did so for financial reasons whereas my decision to return is purely football related. I haven't truly enjoyed my football since my departure and can't wait to get back to playing the fast, attacking style of play that Tanns and Moz have installed. I've always been in regular contact with Craig and a return was always on the cards. I want to hit the ground running and with the strength and conditioning training Charlie Marshall has set up for me over the next few weeks, hopefully I can quickly start adding to the goals of Dan, Sol and TJ."
Think he's always got to say something like that John on his return to the club he left suddenly last season, wouldn't read tooooo much into it although yeah not easy to read!
You're reading it from a place where its intended to be read by Tooting fans who were equally pissed off with him when he left. Hes got a lot of humble pie to eat.
I dont consider the two cases to be the same myself.
So you don't believe the web site and Frankies statement. Well its your choice, but I would say he could have blamed logistics and travel time, you would have been happy as would Tooting fans, but he chose to be open and honest.
Dont think that would have made Tooting fans happy tbh. in the statement he has to make them feel like a girl who's bloke has returned after cheating and swears it will never happen again and that the other girl was nowhere near as good as they were! lol
I have had a few conversations with Frankie and with another long term fan. He told us how he loved Hastings United and was looking for a job in the area. I think that statement to the local paper in Tooting has a whiff of PR and fence mending about it.
yeah come on chaps hes hardly going to go there and say how much he loved hastings but wanted to come back to tooting because its near and handy is he.... at the end of the day he worked tirelessly for us and gave his all so why not wish him luck and move on
Dan, your "woman scorned" analogy could be spot on, I just feel it would have shown just a little bit more class if he'd tried to win the Tooting doubters over with performances on the pitch rather than try to butter them up with some of his comments if that was his intention.
I agree 100% about moving on though. With few exceptions, once a player leaves the Pilot Field, particularly through their choice, they practically cease to exist for me. I'd rather concentrate on those that show some semblance of desire to put on the shirt.
Dan, your "woman scorned" analogy could be spot on, I just feel it would have shown just a little bit more class if he'd tried to win the Tooting doubters over with performances on the pitch rather than try to butter them up with some of his comments if that was his intention.
I agree 100% about moving on though. With few exceptions, once a player leaves the Pilot Field, particularly through their choice, they practically cease to exist for me. I'd rather concentrate on those that show some semblance of desire to put on the shirt.
That's post of the week for me ...well said Matt ! Especially that last sentence .
Hardly think being told by the player how much he loves it here and how the fans respond to him can be called being duped. I take people at their word until they go back on it.
Well , we move on. It's a pity because I think the style of play we have seen the last two games could well suit him. That said, we must now concentrate on the players we have. Bright Temba is an exciting prospect who I'm sure we will see more of.
agree to , know with terry white the play did not help frankie but he miss some very easy chances this season and no big loss and think he was captain and go and make that statement was bad. we need captain made of better than that. Frankie who?
