Soccer Shorts: Liam Daish's transfer dealings hang in the balance

Friday 22nd October 2010

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Members of fans' website MyFootballClub have elected to take decisions on player signings out of the hands of Ebbsfleet United manager Liam Daish.

The 3,000 members who own the Blue Square Bet South club can now decide on any new signing in a 48-hour vote.

Daish, who advised against the proposal, told BBC Radio Kent: "It hasn't gone the way that I expected.

"MyFootballClub have put it through. I don't necessarily agree but I will try and work with them."

MyFootballClub, who took over at Ebbsfleet in January 2008, gave subscribers the chance to earn more control over transfers in an attempt to boost its falling membership.

The website had nearly 28,000 members when it took control of the Stonebridge Road club, but that number has since dropped by 25,000.

Of the current members, only 132 voted on the changes to Ebbsfleet's transfer policy, with 80 in favour of acquiring the extra power.

Until now Daish has had the freedom to make signings without going to a vote, but some player sales, including those of John Akinde and Michael Gash, have been put to the members.

The decision could pose the Fleet boss problems should he need to sign a player in an emergency or want to keep a potential deal under wraps.

"I'm hoping that there will be ways of overriding it if needs must," said Daish.

Ebbsfleet, who were relegated from the Blue Square Premier last season, currently lie fifth in the Blue Square Bet South.

Meanwhile, club secretary Peter Danzey admitted all this has come at the wrong time for the club - especially considering they face Boreham Wood in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round at Stonebridge Road tomorrow.

Mr Danzey posted on the unofficial fans’ forum, saying, “The proposal was passed which means as from now any new signings have to be ratified by the MyFC members, this would mean that if we needed to sign a player in time to play in the FA Cup on Friday morning it cannot happen until a vote to sign the player has been made and I was informed this would take 48 hours, this would mean that the player would not be available to Liam on Saturday.

“Let's hope it doesn't happen especially in an important position like a keeper, this in my opinion now puts Ebbsfleet United at a distinct disadvantage compared to every club we are in competition with.

“I put up an argument against this as did Liam on the MyFC website, their argument was that if members can vote on such matters it will increase membership.

“This decision has rendered my position as Club Secretary untenable as I have no intention on

complying and then no doubt MyFC will then put up a vote calling for my head on a block or threatening not give us anymore money unless I comply.

“I did not intend to say anything until after Saturday as I think preparation for the FA Cup is paramount for the wellbeing of the club, the reason I have posted is that the item has been raised on here and I felt the fans deserved an explanation.

“The predicament that I am in personally is this, I am not reliant on Ebbsfleet United for a living so it is easy for me to say I am going to comply with what MyFC say, but a lot of people at the club do depend on the club for a living such as Liam (Daish), Macca (Paul McCarthy), the players to a certain extent plus of course (club staff). Now my dilemna is that by sticking to my statement that I will not comply to the ratification of players MyFC in retribution might say that no more money will go to the club until I toe the line, this means I am jeopardising peoples livelyhoods by my stance, this is a position I am finding difficult to live with.

“MyFC, by the result of this vote, have made my situation untenable, I may for the good of the club and people employed there have to resign and MyFC will have to put someone in place that will work their way, this is not a decision I want to make.

“I did send an e-mail to the Ebbsfleet United board last Monday stating my position. I am really enjoying my role at the club and have some soul searching to do over the next couple of weeks. I didn't want to say anything this week because I want preparation for the FA Cup game on Saturday to be paramount in our thoughts.

“The only thing I would add is that several "high" ranking people from MyFC are at the game on Saturday and perhaps they could be approached to retract this proposal from the good fans of Ebbsfleet United.”

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman faces some injury concerns ahead of their trip to Ridgeons League side Leiston in the FA Cup Forth Qualifying Round tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Andrew Young will undertake a fitness test before the game, after some light jogging at training during the week, following his calf injury at Eastleigh last weekend.

Danny Harris will also have a fitness test before the game, although he took part in a full training session.

Billy Burgess and Ollie Berquez played ninety minutes in Monday's friendly against Thamesmead Town and both had a full training session last night and are both in contention tomorrow, as is Tom Champion who had a full training session.

BROMLEY would like to remind supporters that they’re reserve side will face Ebbsfleet United in the Presidents Challenge Cup at Hayes Lane tomorrow (2pm).

The club have confirmed that the match will involve the majority of the first team. Admission costs just £2 and season ticket holders are admitted free of charge.

Meanwhile, a Charity Race Night will also be held in the Glemnet Suite after the game, with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care.

It is hoped that former players Sam Wood and Gareth McCleary will be making an appearance on the evening.

Bromley striker Paul Vines, who grew a beard to raise money for the charity, has invited the Bromley fans to attend the evening, so your support would be greatly appreciated by everyone involved in the charity.

MAIDSTONE UNITED’s new manager Andy Ford admitted he had a baptism of fire after being appointed as Peter Nott’s successor just hours before their 2-2 home draw against Hendon last Tuesday.

“It has been a hectic couple of days since my appointment on Tuesday,” the former Welling United manager told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

“We have had a baptism of fire as within hours of taking charge we were thrown straight into the game against Hendon. However, we managed to get through the match without losing which could have easily happened.

“I was quite pleased with some of the performances from the players on Tuesday. We had enough chances to win the game and as you know it is a problem if a team cannot create opportunities. It is up to the lads to put the chances away though and that is something we have to try and improve on.

“We were a bit stretched at times in the second half. That could partly be due to the fitness of the players and the shape of the side. We need to be more solid as well but I was quite happy with some of the aspects of the game.”

It’s the battle of The Stones tomorrow, as Ford takes Maidstone to play Wealdstone for a Ryman Premier League fixture.

“Steve (Butler, my assistant manager) and I were surprised to find that we don’t have full sized goals at our training facility which makes it hard to do shooting practise.

“However, I don’t want to moan about it as at least we can train outside and on the grass and we will do everything possible to get the best out of what is provided for us.

“You will have also seen that we have signed Ryan Johnson who can play in midfield. I know Ryan from my time at Welling. As a result, Des Boateng has left the club.”

As for squad news for tomorrow, in-form striker Danny Hockton is suspended but Tommy Whitnell has declared himself fit and Peter Hawkins returns after his suspension.

MARGATE were pleased to have headed off an approach from Maidstone United for their captain Jay Saunders, and can confirm that the long-serving skipper remains committed to the club.

The Hartsdown Park club issued the following statement on their website www.margate-fc.com.

“Gate were approached initially by the Stones’ new Chief Executive Bill Williams for permission to talk to Jay in connection with the manager’s job at Homelands.

“Mister Williams was told that Jay is under contract at Hartsdown Park, that he would not be going anywhere and that permission to speak to Jay would not be granted.

“Jay was told of the Maidstone approach but confirmed his wish to remain at Hartsdown Park.

“Disappointingly, Mister Williams subsequently spoke directly to Jay about the manager’s role with the Stones, asking him to keep the conversation confidential.”

Margate manager Iain O’Connell described the regrettable approach to his skipper as “disgusting.”

“Jay had this issue on his mind for the Whitehawk game” revealed the Gate boss. “But such is the professionalism of the man that he put all that to the back of his mind, had a very good game and scored a screamer of a goal to help us progress to the next round of the FA Trophy.”

In other player news, the club have agreed terms for the release of former defender Dan Young from his contract. Dan is now free to sign for another club.

Margate are back in Ryman league action tomorrow when they travel to Essex to take on 9th placed Billericay Town at the New Lodge.

Margate currently sit two places and two points below their hosts but with a game in hand. A win at New lodge would take Gate above Billericay and possible up to 7th in the table, depending on what happens elsewhere.

In fact, Margate are one of the division’s form sides. Having taken 12 from a possible 18 points, Gate are currently ranked three in the form table. In Shaun Welford, Margate have the league’s in-form striker and the combination of Welford and Dean Grant up front looks to be developing nicely.

But boss O’Connell could welcome back injured duo Ishmail Kamara and James Pinnock to bolster his squad, although both could only get as far as the bench given the last two wins were achieved by an 11-2 aggregate without Pinnock featuring at all, and Kamara for just 51 minutes against Horsham.

CHATHAM TOWN’S loyal supporters can take advantage of free admission for the visit of Chipstead on Saturday 18 December.

“The Chipstead match will be free entry, yes zero, nil, nothing for holders of three programme vouchers collected from the home November matches,” said a club statement, posted on www.chathamtownfc.net.

“If you can’t collect the vouchers then entry for all non voucher supporters will be only £2. Season ticket holders will get a free pint at the bar!”

Chatham face high-flying Leatherhead at Maidstone Road tomorrow (3pm).

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Mark Lane was upbeat at last nights training session ahead of tomorrow‘s home game against Burgess Hill Town.

“See for yourself” he said with a chill wind whipping across the G3 pitch as Whitstable Town’s players firstly were put through a punishing workout by first team coach Andy Morris, then they took part in an energetic game between about twenty players before Morris had them doing timed sprinting.

“We have Burgess Hill at the Belmont on Saturday the players are all up for it and ready to get three more points and climb up the table,” Lane told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“You can see that Ian Pulman looked sharp and giving him the captains arm band seems to have put a spring in his step, but I reminded Ian and the rest of the players they have to put in a hard shift to keep the shirt.

“If I have anyone who is not 100% behind my decisions as to who plays and who warms the bench they need to look elsewhere to play their football.

“It’s a long season and players will get a dip in form or get knocks it’s up to each and every one of them to perform when they get their chance.

“We still have a few players out, Sam Denley is the club captain but he’s been out for the last month or so and is still not training so that means that someone else has his shirt.

“That’s the way it has to be as Clint (Gooding) and myself are not about to roll over after all the hard graft we put in at the end of last season and so far this.

“We have played some good football at times this season we have only been the width of a bootlace away from getting a result and if we carry on playing decent football then the rest will take care of itself.

“But only if we are all pulling together, and that means even if you are not on the pitch you are still part of the team. There is no ‘I’ in team and I will not tolerate anyone with their own agenda pulling in the opposite direction, if they do there will only be one winner!”

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley has rung the changes ahead of tomorrow’s home clash against rivals Fisher in the first-leg of the Kent League Cup.

In the wake of Tuesday’s hugely disappointing 5-2 home defeat at the hands of bottom side Sporting Bengal United, Huntley has reacted quickly to the situation with a double signing.

Midfielder Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw, who has played Conference football for several clubs including Grays Athletic has signed, as has central defender Dave Waters, who arrives from neighbouring Combined Counties League side Croydon, and has a wealth of Kent League experience.

Huntley told www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk: “I'm obviously delighted that Dean has agreed to play Kent League football - make no mistake this is a major capture for us".

Huntley added: “We have to get Tuesday night's game out of our minds and be fully focussed for the Fisher game. Apart from the new faces, I'm relieved that we now have Nathan Paul back to full fitness and likely to play on Saturday".

Becks now have a couple of weeks off from League action to turn their attention to the two legged League Cup encounters against Fisher followed by a London Senior Cup Second Round trip on 2nd November to Corinthian-Casuals. The winners of the Casuals match travel to play the winners of Barking v. Fisher in the third round.

After putting in such a woeful performance against Sporting Bengal in midweek, Huntley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that his table-topping side must bounce back against Gary Lisney’s side tomorrow.

He said: “We’ll see what they’ve got in the locker Saturday, how they want to reply to is. They owe us a game as far as I’m concerned and they owe everyone, who comes and watch and support us every week, a game.”

ERITH & BELVEDERE boss Micky Collins warns tomorrow’s visit to Sporting Bengal United will not be easy, especially after the east London side stunned league leaders Beckenham Town in midweek with a shock 5-2 win at Eden Park Avenue.

Collins sent his player-assistant Simon Osborn to watch that game, and Osborn was impressed with hat-trick hero Safron Patel, who plays out wide on the left and cuts inside to great effect.

Speaking about his position in the bottom four of the Safety Net Associates Kent League, Collins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that things will get better.

“Bad start to the season league wise,” he said. “I think if we had a poor FA Cup run and not in the Vase still then we’d be in serious trouble. However, that’s not the case. We’ve got a brand new squad and we knew that.

“We’ve had a great FA Cup run, we’ve earnt the club some money, which is good and we’re still in the FA Vase and we maybe fourth-from-bottom in the league, but we’ve done well in every game. I am disappointed at the position but there is a long, long way to go!

“VCD have drawn with Erith, Beckenham have lost to Sporting Bengal this week, it’s wide open and there’s a long way to go.

“Of course we would’ve wanted a better start but that’s not happened and with a new squad that’s a possibility. Hopefully we’re starting to turn a corner and start putting some results together.”

Looking ahead to the visit to the Mile End Stadium tomorrow, Collins added: “I’m one of these people, I never underestimate every team. We had someone at the game at Beckenham and watched them. I give every single tam respect as I did as a player and I will as a manager.

“We’ll go there, we’ll have a game plan and set out the way we want to play and hopefully we’ll perform and that is what the Kent League is about. If you perform on the day and you get 9-10 players that actually play to a seven or an eight you will win most games.

“Unfortunately for us that hasn’t been the case in every game that we’ve played this year.”

SEVENOAKS TOWN striker Adam Marsh says he is coming to terms with life after coming out of the professional game with Leyton Orient.

The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the Kent League club at Greenwich Borough last weekend in only his second game since arriving on a dual registration from Ryman Premier League strugglers Maidstone United.

Marsh who also had a spell at Welling after being released by Leyton Orient told www.sevenoakstownfc.org

said: "I was pleased to score, it was a nice confidence booster for me, getting me going and fitting in with the rest of the boys.

"I was scoring for Maidstone at the beginning of the season, but didn't get my opportunities, so I thought I would come to Sevenoaks and give it a go.

"There's a lot of potential in the side, we passed the ball well against Greenwich, and we just need to get used to playing with each other, and I just thhink it will fall into place."

The Thamesmead born teenager, still lives in South East London and is reunited with goalkeeper Dan Bygrave who was a year behind him at Orient.

He admitted: “I was disappointing not to get a professional contract at Brisbane Road, but knows life goes on.

"I was there for two years on a scholarship, and was with the first team for the second year. I worked under Martin Ling and Dean Smith, and then they changed managers and it didn't work out.

"Geraint Williams released me and I then went to Welling. You are going to get knockbacks whereever you go, but you have got to carry on. keep your head up and whatever will be will be I had to find myself a job to get money behind me, and I am working as a fork lift truck driver in a warehouse.

"I want to keep playing and definitely hope to get the chance to play higher again."

Benji Agana has rejoined his home-town club from rivals Tunbridge Wells. He moved back late last week, and was on the bench at Greenwich Borough last weekend.

Agana left just before the beginning of last season for his third spell at Culverden Stadium, making 25 appearances last season. He has made four starts this season, and faces a quick reunion with his former team-mates who visit in the Safety Net Kent League Premier Division League Cup First Round First Leg tie at Greatness Park tomorrow.

Sevenoaks hope that Richard Stevens will be available for that game after his move from Corinthian was held up over last weekend.

Boss Keith Levett said: Benji expressed an interest in coming down. I jumped at the chance to sign him because he is a strong target man, and that's what we need down the spine of the team.

"We signed Richard as well, but there was a problem cancelling his registration at Corinthian, otherwise he would have been on the bench against Greenwich as well.

“I think suddenly we look like a decent side. I think they are both excellent signings, and we have got pace and options available."

TUNBRIDGE WELLS secretary Phil Allcorn has invited supporters to express their feelings on the club, having taken advantage of free admission last weekend.

A crowd of 307 watched Martin Larkin’s side thrash Sporting Bengal 7-1 at Culverden Stadium.

“We were delighted with the bumper 307 crowd who attended the game against Sporting Bengal on Saturday, and would now really like to hear from them on your thoughts of the day,” Mr Allcorn told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“We obviously know that the only reason why the gate was so high, was the fact that we didn't charge an entry fee.

“One of the things that we hope to have achieved, is to have encouraged people who may have been unsure on coming to games, or indeed having attended for the very first time, to attend on a regular basis.

“We really would love to hear from you, good or bad, anything you liked, anything you think we should change that could have improved your day. Will you come again or would you not be happy to may an admission fee? Any feedback will be most valuable to us.

You can contact Mr Allcorn by email: secretary@twfcexec.com

Larkin, who is relishing tomorrow’s trip to arch-rivals Sevenoaks Town in the first leg of the Kent League Cup, thought the support last weekend was excellent.

He said: “On behalf of the playing squad, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended the game on Saturday against Sporting Bengal.

“There was a fantastic atmosphere and I think attacking the terraced end where everyone was gathered in the first half certainly influenced our performance and we hope the goals in the first period were what you were all after.

“The lads have shown how they respond this season to big crowds so please make the effort to come again. Our next home game is on November 6th being a derby with Sevenoaks Town, so should be a great game.”