Relegation is not acceptable for a club of our size, insists Hythe Town chairman Vishal Nanda, as their fourth manager of the season, Henry Newcombe steps down after four days and one heavy defeat

HYTHE TOWN chairman Vishal Nanda insists relegation from the ninth-tier Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division is not acceptable for a club its size.

Relegation was confirmed following Tuesday night’s 5-0 defeat by ten-man Tunbridge Wells at Culverden Stadium – with Steve Ives’ men scoring four times inside the opening 16 minutes before having their left-back Ben Martin-Coward sent off for a last-man foul on the half-hour mark.

Hythe Town are second-from-bottom in the table, having picked up 20 points (five wins, five draws and 21 defeats) this season and have now suffered back-to-back relegations.

The Reachfields Stadium club have parted company with FOUR managers this season – as 28-year-old goalkeeper Henry Newcombe, who took caretaker charge at Tunbridge Wells, has confirmed he has stood down from the role today after only four days at the helm after Nanda phoned him on Sunday to take the reins.

Newcombe said in his post-match interview with this website that he was “happy to do the job or take on any other role until the end of the season” but posted on social media that has stood down today.

Newcombe, who is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury, revealed in his post-match interview that players were phoning their mates and agreeing to sign for the club ahead of the transfer deadline to get a team together for the game.

The situation had an air of Sunday League football about it – not the ninth-tier of the English football pyramid where supporters pay money to attend games and players get paid to play – and they certainly played like a pub team for the opening 20 minutes at Culverden Stadium.

“I enjoyed the opportunity of stepping in and managing Hythe Town on Tuesday.  I will be now stepping away from the club,” said Newcombe, who handed six players of the 16-man match-day squad their debuts.

“I cannot fault the players and their efforts on the pitch.  However, in life you have to stand by the morales and values you have been brought up on.”

Ira Jackson (21 games in all competitions, six wins, two draws and 13 defeats), Darren Beale (nine games, no wins, four draws and five defeats), Andy Drury (eight games, two wins, one draw and five defeats) and Newcombe (one game, one defeat) and 92 footballers have all contributed to Hythe Town dropping into the tenth-tier Southern Counties East Football League First Division.

“As chairman of Hythe Town Football Club, I want to address our supporters following the club’s sad but possible relegation this season,” said Mr Nanda in a club statement on the club website.

“Firstly, there is no hiding from the disappointment. Relegation is not acceptable for a club of our size and I fully understand the frustration felt by everyone connected to Hythe Town.

“What I do want to make clear, however, is that this season has not been for a lack of effort or financial backing.

“Every manager brought into the football club has been fully supported.”

Sources claim that Drury had a budget of £2,800 per week during his time at Reachfields Stadium, which adds further embarrassment to the current situation, especially as Fisher manager Ajay Ashanike can guide his club to second-in-the-table with a ZERO BUDGET.

“They were given the freedom and resources to build squads they believed could deliver results on the pitch.

“In football, decisions don’t always go the way you hope.  Not every call is the right one – that’s the reality of the game.

“But I can assure you that every decision made throughout the season has been done with the best intentions for this football club, to try and achieve success for both the team and our supporters.

“There has understandably been frustration around communication.  The reality is that there have been situations behind the scenes that have limited what we have been able to say publicly at certain times. That has, at times, made it appear like there has been a lack of communication – and I accept that.

“Now we are in a position to speak more openly, we feel it is the right time to bring everyone together.

“We will be holding a Fans Forum at Reachfields, following the final game of the season. This will be an opportunity to provide clarity on what has been happening behind the scenes, outline the direction of the club and answer your questions directly.

“We invite all supporters who wish to attend to do so. In advance of the forum, we ask that any questions are sent to webcontact@hythetownfc.co.uk.

“We kindly ask that questions are constructive.  This is not a time for accusations, but a time to reflect, understand the challenges faced and look at how we move forward together as a club.

“Your support – especially during a difficult season – has not gone unnoticed. The backing you have given the team, home and away, is appreciated more than you know.

“We will regroup, rebuild and come back stronger.”

The relegated side complete the campaign with games against Larkfield & New Hythe (away, Saturday), champions Whitstable Town (away, 6 April), Sutton Athletic (home, 11 April), Faversham Strike Force (home, 18 April) and Punjab United (away, 23 April).

Since beating bottom-side Stansfeld 3-1 in Eltham on 28 February, Hythe Town have not won in four outings, losing 5-0 at Fisher, drawing 1-1 at home to Holmesdale before losing 5-2 at Kennington and leaking five at Tunbridge Wells.

The Cannons are 13 points adrift of safety (Faversham Strike Force) with 15 points to play for – but there is no chance whatsoever of pulling off the greatest escapes in the entire history of English football.

Mr Nanda is now tasked with getting the right man for the job and the right players who can cope with tenth-tier football next season.

Some names to be thrown in the ring include the likes of Dan Lawrence, Luke Wallond, Graham Martin, Lee Roots, Billy Hamlin/Jamie Phipps – guys that have previously managed in the First Division and know the circuit.

You can even get promoted out of that division for less than half of Drury’s playing budget too!

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk