Sporting Club Thamesmead hold silence over managerial situation at Bayliss Avenue

SPORTING CLUB Thamesmead officials are keeping tight-lipped over the managerial situation at Bayliss Avenue.

The club suffered a 3-0 home defeat to their league rivals Lewisham Borough in the Challenge Cup on Monday 2 October, hitting the crossbar on three occasions during the second half against Lloyd Davis’ men, who had made seven changes to the game, while the Acre made five changes.

Danny Harris was in the dug-out for Sporting Club Thamesmead, who admitted during his post-match interview that his job was on the line as the club were rooted at the foot of the Southern Counties East Football League First Division and without a win in 10 games.

The club’s next game was a London Senior Cup First Round tie away to Wimbledon Casuals last Saturday.

However, The London Football Association gave the Surrey Premier County top-flight side a walkover, as Sporting Club Thamesmead failed to field a team, as the club had parted company with Harris in the week leading up to the game.

Sporting Club Thamesmead have not announced the departure of Harris, who was manging Lordswood’s under 23 side last season.

However, the club were looking to appoint Fred Dillon, who was/is the manager of Kent County League Premier Division side Chipstead, and he was looking to bring his entire squad to Bayliss Avenue.

However, that is against Football Association Rules and the Kent County League issued a statement on the matter on 11 October.

League chairman Gavin Hoare said: “The Kent County League is aware of rumours of the demise of one senior club and its players moving to a senior competition.

“The League has had no such formal request from any club on any withdrawal at this time.

“There are FA Rules in place that prevent mass exodus of players from one club to another at all levels of Saturday football.

“The League will make no further comment unless it has facts to share with the membership.”

The Kent County League has postponed Chipstead’s two next two fixtures, away to Hawkinge Town today and against Dartford-based Kent United next Tuesday.

Speculation has been doing the rounds that Chipstead (Kent) – founded in 1936 – were folding.

This website emailed three people at Sporting Club Thamesmead – and the secretary at Chipstead – late on Thursday night, requesting statements concering this matter – and both clubs have not responded.

Former manager and current co-chairman Lee Hill will take charge of today’s Kent Senior Trophy home tie against Premier Division side Bearsted (15:00).