Duo step up as Pitmen implode
Danny Glover and Ben Bailey will be in charge of Hednesford Town when the Pitmen move into the post-Gary Hayward era at Keys Park tomorrow (3pm).
Hednesford were looking good for promotion from Southern Central Premier – and have topped the division this season – but manager Hayward left for Buxton this week amid reports of cuts to the playing budget.
Off the field, local businessman Paul Jones – who came in as head of a new management group in March to work under chairman Steve Price – has also stepped away after disagreements with Price.
Writing on the Hednesford forum, Jones – whose group were hoping to purchase the club at the end of the season – said: “I believe in six months we (the management group) have more than achieved our goals.”
He added: “The day after we got knocked out of the FA Cup, Mr Price rang me to move the goal posts saying he wanted out now and we had to do a deal immediately, also stating he wanted to slash the budget with immediate effect.”
After a further meeting with Price, Jones then decided to walk away.
Hednesford still hope to have most of their squad available when striker Glover and defender Bailey – two stalwarts of the Pitmen in recent years – take the reigns for tomorrow’s league clash with Hitchin Town.
However, Tom Elliott has left to join Hayward at Buxton, but Glover remains positive. He said: “We still have a good squad of players and we need to refocus as a group and get back to winning ways. We are fifth in the league, in a play-off spot and are still in the FA Trophy, there is a lot to play for this season.”
Elsewhere in the Southern Central Premier, Rushall Olympic travel to Nuneaton Borough and Stourbridge host Coalville – both sides are hoping to reignite their promotion hopes.
Fifth-bottom Kidderminster Harriers will go looking for their first win since October 22 when they host play-off-chasing Boston United in National League North tomorrow.
Chasetown’s winless run is even longer in Northern One South East. They haven’t picked up three points since September 10 and have slipped to fourth from bottom in the table. They have a tough ask to reverse that trend – league leaders Stamford visit the Scholars Ground totomorrow.
Things look even worse for Stafford Rangers, who have lost their last five league matches to sink to the bottom of the Northern Premier. They host Radcliffe tomorrow.
