Work and family commitments forces Deal Town chairman to step down

Friday 04th August 2006

Kent League club Deal Town are searching for a new chairman and vice-chairman following the resignations of Mr David Saunders and Mr Graham Johns respectively.

The club, FA Vase winners under former boss Tommy Sampson in 2000, kick off their Kent League campaign with a home game against Slade Green on 12^th August.

Mr Saunders, meanwhile, has issued the following statement, explaining why work and family commitments have forced him to step down after six years at the east Kent club.

“I would like to clarify that it was with great reluctance that I stood down. I have been very lucky in that my career has taken off but it necessitates me staying away in Croydon most of the week,” he said.

“I have two children aged 12 and 9 and, in view of my absence, I really think that I should be spending more time with them and supporting them in all their many activities and actually having the freedom to do family and other things at weekends.

”The bottom line was that I was pulled in too many directions - both in my career and at home - and something had to give.

“As much as I love the club - the officials, players and supporters who have been great throughout the past 6 years - something had to give and that was the football.

”I hope people do not think that I have "walked away" as stated in the press recently - that was not my intention and, to be honest, I have probably stayed on a year longer than I wanted to in view of my other commitments.

“These were unnecessary and ill thought out comments which upset me greatly - and I think I deserved a little better to be honest.

”Deal deserves a chairman and vice chairman who are able to pop into the ground and have the time to properly do the job.

“I did not feel I could give the position the time that it deserves. There are still seven directors - so there are still a significant number of people involved - and I feel it is right that someone else should come forward and take the responsibilty.

”I should warn them that it is not an easy job (you are the butt of all sorts of criticism - some justified and some which is not) - but it does have some fantastic rewards and, for the most part, was great fun.

Mr Saunders, meanwhile, calls upon more support from people in the town, and he knows it's there, after they crawled out of the woodwork when they lifted the FA Vase at Wembley Stadium in 2000 and he hopes the club can enjoy another run in the competition as they did just two years ago.

He said: “I shall never forget some of the great games and the FA Vase run two years ago - going up to Jarrow. I hope there are many such occasions in future years.

”The club has the potential to do that. A vibrant Supporters Club and good support at our level.

“What it does need is more volunteers - it is often only left to the willing few - and much more interest from the town.

“If Deal really want a senior football club, then the people of Deal should support it - and it has always upset me that 9500 Deal people went to Wembley and yet our average gate still hovers around the 100 mark.

“Local senior football is great to watch - most of the time - and you get near to the pitch and the players.

“It is not expensive and it would be great if more people from the business world wanted to become involved - I suspect, like me, it is often a case of other priorities and time.

”May I just end by saying a big and heartfelt thank you to all of you who have supported me in my time with the club. It has been a pleasure to meet all of you and I hope to see you down at the ground as a supporter in the not too distant future.”