Chatham Town boss Paul Piggott: Taking a step backwards will only help the club reinvent itself again to go forwards and bouncing back from the disappointment of this season

CHATHAM TOWN boss Paul Piggott says the club will come back stronger after suffering relegation.

 

The Maidstone Road based outfit are expecting to be playing Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division football next season for the first time since winning the old Kent League title back in 2001.

Piggott could not halt the club’s decline after taking over in November, after Tony Beckingham and then his assistant Darren Anslow were in charge at the start of the season.

Chatham Town have won only seven league games in their 45 league outings and have picked up a sorry 30 points and they have suffered the drop alongside Three Bridges and Godalming Town, finishing eight points adrift of Guernsey.

Chatham Town went down to a 2-0 home defeat to Molesey on Easter Saturday which sealed their relegation, while their 6-1 thrashing at Hythe Town two days later was just embarrassing.

Eighth-placed side Lewes are the visitors to Maidstone Road tomorrow and Piggott is trying to pick up the pieces of a miserable campaign.

He said: “Tomorrow’s game brings an end to a challenging few months for the club and all involved.

“We’re all in football and had good times and when you don’t it’s tough on all  and last weekend’s results sealed our fate as far as relegation.

“I’ve seen a side to players I don’t like in football over the last three or four months but that’s not a reflection on the lads that tried their best for us in that time.

“The ones that’ll jump ship as soon as there was a chance to “better themselves,” the blame will and should be at my door as I’m the manager of the club but anyone who’s been in this position will only know.”

Chairman Jeff Talbot will be standing down and will be replaced by Kevin Hake, who has been the manager of tenants Gravesham Borough this season.

Mr Talbot told www.chathamtownfc.info: “I gave notice before the start of the season that this would be my last as chairman of Chatham Town Football Club.

“To enable a seamless transition, the club’s major shareholders and I have been working to find a new chairman to lead the club on the next stage of its journey.

“I am pleased to announce that Kevin Hake will become chairman from 24 April 2017, which is timed to coincide with our final monthly board meeting of the season and gives Kevin the maximum amount of time to get his feet under the table before the new season starts.

“Kevin has represented his outline plans for Chatham Town which look to build and open up exciting new opportunities for the club.

“Many will know Kevin as an ex-Chatham Town player, his father as a previous Chatham Town manager and his brother also a previous first team player.  This appointment thus supports our approach to rebuild Chatham Town with stronger local ties.

“I am sure you will all have plenty of questions for Kevin. He will be at our presentation night directly after our last game of the season against Lewes tomorrow to meet you all informally.”

Piggott added: “But now the club knows what situation it’s in and taking a step backwards will only help the club reinvent itself again to go forwards and bouncing back from the disappointment of this season.

“The devoted people who come through the gate on a Saturday have put up with a lot of rubbish this season with only a few wins at home but to them I say thanks for your continued support.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.info

Chatham Town  v  Lewes
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 22^nd April 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Maidstone Road, Bourneville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR