I leave league leaders Erith & Belvedere with my head held high, says departing interim manager Andy Constable

ANDY CONSTABLE says he departs runaway league leaders Erith & Belvedere with his head held high after being forced to leave his post of interim manager on Friday.

The 44-year-old took over from Tony Beckingham, who stepped down from the manager’s hot-seat following a 3-3 home draw against Fisher on 3 December and a disagreement at boardroom level at the ninth-tier club.

Constable was appointed as interim manager and was in charge for 14 games but the trigger-happy board of Adrian Deane and Paul Springett parted company with the well-respected Constable following a 2-1 home defeat to Hollands & Blair in their last outing.

Erith & Belvedere were 14 points clear at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table at the time and the Park View Road hierarchy now begin the search for their third manager of the campaign, which could potentially blow up in their faces within the last seven weeks of the season.

“It is with deep regret that I have been forced to leave my position as manager of Erith & Belvedere FC,” said Constable.

“Following the 2-1 defeat at home to Hollands & Blair last Tuesday evening, I was informed by the chairman that following board discussions, the whole of my management team were to be relieved of their duties.

“They felt that they wanted to make a change and as such, assistant manager (Tony Cornwell), coaches (Mike Parker and Grant Duff), along with physio (Dom Emptage) would be leaving the club with immediate effect.

“I was asked to stay but on the condition that I accepted the Boards’ appointment of a new management team, including a manager that I would be expected to work alongside.

“This made my position at the club untenable; the choice of the backroom team must always be the decision of the manager.

“If the Board felt that the recent blip in form was down to the players not responding to instructions given by the management team, then that responsibility sits entirely with the manager and nobody else.

“I accept that when you are in a bad run of form something must change, whether that is bringing fresh players into the squad, a change of shape or style of play.  The decision of the Board to completely overhaul and replace the backroom team made absolutely no sense to me.

“I had complete confidence in myself and the management team that was assembled prior to the start of pre-season.  I know that we had enough quality in the management team and the playing staff to get us out of the recent poor run of form.

“In my mind there is no doubt that we would have gone on to win this league. 

“Barring Tony Beckingham, who made the decision to leave in December, this is the same set of staff and players that has put the club in its current position.

“We won 11 straight league games from the start of the season, which is a club record and have lost only three league games all season.  There was no issue with the management team during this time but with only nine games to go, we are suddenly out of our depth and not good enough!

“In my opinion, we should have been given the opportunity to see the season out and clinch the title.

“I have been here from the start of the season as assistant manager when we built a side from nothing.

“I then took over as (interim) manager and the whole management team has worked tirelessly and professionally throughout that time. Not having the opportunity to finish what we/I started is a tough pill to swallow.  I cannot emphasise how wrong I believe this decision to be.

“That aside, I have been involved in non-league football for many years and nothing really surprises me anymore at this level.

“I leave the club with my head held high, currently 11 points clear at he top of the table and firm favourites to go on and win the league.

“I feel proud of the job that I have done, as should the management team that leave with me.

“I wish the players’ all the best and really hope that they at least get the opportunity to go on and lift that title. They have been an outstanding group of players’ to work with. It is my sincerest wish that they complete the job that we all started way back in August.

“Lastly but by no means least, I want to send heartfelt thanks to the people that actually make the club function and the small but wonderfully committed supporters that have been there with us throughout the season.”

Erith & Belvedere’s 14 results with Constable in interim charge:

Away - Stansfeld W2-0 – League
Home - Erith Town W1-0 – League
Away – Hollands & Blair W4-0 – League
Home – Brentford B L2-3 – London Senior Cup
Away – Kennington W2-1 – League
Home – K Sports W5-1 – League
Home – Bearsted W2-0 – Kent Senior Trophy
Away – Phoenix Sports D2-2 – League
Away – Punjab United L0-1 – Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final
Home – Lordswood D3-3 – League
Away – Punjab United L0-1 – League
Home – Holmesdale W4-0 – League
Home – Sutton Athletic D4-4 – League
Home – Hollands & Blair L1-2 – League

The club haven't even showed a club legend respect by issuing a statement on their former striker's (and title and cup double winner under Micky Collins back in 2013) controversial departure.

The Deres have not confirmed whom will be in charge for Saturday's home clash against sixth-placed side Whitstable Town.

Erith & Belvedere have collected 68 points from 29 games and were at one stage a whopping 20 points clear at the summit.

However, Deal Town (57 points from 29 games), Phoenix Sports (55 points from 27 games), Erith Town (55 points from 27 games) will be confident of closing the gap as Erith & Belvedere’s Board must get their next appointment right, otherwise all of Beckingham and Constable’s efforts will be wasted.

Beckingham is now part of Adam Woodward’s management team at Erith Town.