Cumberbatch makes quiet exit from Ashford Town - EXCLUSIVE

John Cumberbatch has today revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he parted company with Ashford Town ELEVEN days ago, writes Stephen McCartney.

Cumberbatch took sole charge of team affairs last November when Tim Thorogood moved away from the technical area to the boardroom as Director of Football.

And Mr Thorogood told Cumberbatch that his two and a half year stint at The Homelands had come to an end with a telephone call on the night that Manchester United’s Champions League dreams were ended with defeat in Milan - four days after Ashford completed their Ryman League Division One South campaign.

Although the Nuts & Bolts finished in the bottom five, they maintained their Ryman League status with four games left, with a 2-0 win at Burgess Hill Town on 14^th April, and Cumberbatch admitted today that he was “disappointed” that the new owners haven’t kept faith in him to mount a serious assault for success next season.

“I received a call from Tim saying the new owners were looking to change things and have a change of manager,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It didn’t come to a surprise to me, I was aware that this would happen. Not purely because of results but because of various events in three weeks leading up to the last game of the season, and because of the lack of response to my queries regarding planning for next season.

“The moment we secured safety from relegation against Burgess Hill, I expected the club or myself as manager needed to start planning to make sure that the club had a good start to next season.

“I was obviously disappointed that not having given the opportunity to have formal discussions with the new management structure, that being the new owners and Mark Jenner as chairman and Tim Thorogood as director of football, my only point of contact really was via Tim.

“So therefore, I was disappointed to be released from the position.”

Cumberbatch, working without an assistant manager when Thorogood moved upstairs, feels that he should have been given the chance to lead the team in a season that should awaken the Sleeping Giant.

He said: “I am confident that had I been in full control of the same set of players, along with an assistant to aid me from the beginning of pre-season training, I’m convinced that our league position would be much, much higher both last and next season.

“Although doing the job jointly with Tim, I have to take as much responsibility for our lowly league position.

“Managing jointly is not the same, is not certainly not an advantage to sole management.

“During my personal disappointment, I am even more disappointed at the fact that many of the players wanted to know what the situation would be for next season and again I felt they were treated with contempt.

“They were told that they would all be invited back to pre-season training, but I felt that there are at least five or six players who needed to be spoken to on a more personal level and that doesn’t seem to have happened until perhaps last week.

“Although doing the job jointly with Tim, I have to take much responsibility for our lowly league position during the last two seasons.

at the fact that many of the players wanted to know the situation would be for next season, and again I felt they were treated with contempt.

“They were told that they would all be invited back to pre-season training, but I felt that there are at least five or six of the players who needed to be spoken to on a more personal level and that doesn’t seem to have happened until perhaps last week.

“I’ve just had to fend them off without giving them any clear answers baring in mind before the phone call from Tim, I had a very good inkling of what the situation would be.

“Any manager, who at the end of the season hadn’t had any discussion with the board for the following season, must know it’s time to clear his imaginary desk.”

Cumberbatch feels he operated in “very difficult circumstances,” explaining that his side were forced to play 22 games in the last three months of the season as they successfully secured their Ryman League status.

“I felt when I took over in sole charge I’ve done the job in very difficult circumstances,” he said.

“I can’t go into the whole of those circumstances because they’re not things that need to be made public, but I’ve also written many times about the weather and the cancelled matches, and the difficultly in preparation that caused.

“So finishing the season better than we had the previous two seasons and reaching the Kent Senior Cup semi-final, I felt there was a springboard to take us into next season and a much higher league position.”

Despite his parting of ways, Cumberbatch wishes the club good fortune.

He said: “The club has very good facilities and everybody knows that there’s the potential to grow into a much bigger club, so it’s imperative that the planning for a secure future is meticulous and the football side of things need to be made priority.

“I expect that with the decisions that the new owners and new board are making that success will come and quite swiftly.

“In getting rid of me that’s obviously part of their planning and so far my point of view as long as it’s in the best interests of the club, I have to except that.

“I’m just a little surprised in the manner in which it’s been handled.”

Cumberbatch, a business consultant, insists he will be back involved with Kent football, adding: “I’m talking to various clubs about positions within those clubs, but I’m not in a situation where I have to make a quick decision.”

Visit Ashford Town’s website:  www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk