waltonc130318_final

The Secretary’s Jottings
Good evening everyone. Welcome to Woodstock
Park.
Our visitors are Walton Casuals. Welcome to
their Players, Officials and supporters. A welcome
also to the match officials.
Our poor form continues with two more defeats.
At home to Ramsgate and away at
Guernsey. We fell to yet another late goal
against Ramsgate. A score of 2-2 at the time
looked about fair with both teams being in the
ascendancy for periods. What was particularly
disappointing that we were 2-0 up at one
stage. We were undone in a similar manner to
when we conceded a winner in added on time
to East Grinstead, namely a towering header
by an opponent that was just not defended by
us.
Guernsey were not much better than us and
certainly a 3-0 win flattered them but giving
away silly goals on the day cost us dear.
Today, Aslan has Kane Phillip (who came on
as substitute at Guernsey) and Tyrone Guthrie
available. Unfortunately, still out are John
Coker (long term) and Chris Elliott. Ben Davisson
has left the club and in a manner that we
are not happy with. He told Aslan last week
that he would not play against Corinthian Casuals
as he was leaving. We, as a committee
feel that he let everybody down with his attitude
especially as he had just been made captain.
It’s possible he has been spoken to by
other clubs. I’m sure that it is no coincidence
that we had two seven-day notices come in for
him. I’m afraid with some players there is little
loyalty to a club. Players like Hicham Akhazzan
are very much in a minority.
The attendance of 97 against Ramsgate, Particularly
as it was a local derby was awful. Our
very future will be in jeopardy if we have more
gates like that. We barely made enough to pay
the officials. The Woodstock bar also made a
loss. Wages to the bar staff were greater than
the income over the bar. Woodstock rely on
these bar takings, as after all they do not ask a
penny from us for being here. Obviously, our
results have not been great lately. The slide
started when Nick was still manager. Aslan
took over a side with players out through suspension
and injury (six players unavailable
when Aslan took over). Since then we have
lost Sylvan to Hythe after they made him an
offer he could not turn down. I have to say that
Sylvan conducted himself correctly with this.
I must emphasise that no wage cuts have taken
place and none are anticipated. Aslan is
bringing in a number of players to see how
they do at this level in preparation for next season.
I know you will continue to support him
and the team during this transitional period. I
also know that the performance against Guernsey
hurt Aslan very much and he will do his
best to get us back on track. Unfortunately,
with today’s visitors being Walton Casuals and
Saturday seeing us away to Hythe, it’s not going
to be easy.
I mentioned above the support you have given
the team. This was again magnificent at
Guernsey. I read criticism of teams from supporters
of other clubs everywhere but I can
honestly say that in all the years I have been at
Sittingbourne, I can only remember unswerving
support. We, as a committee sometimes have
difficult decisions to make but I know that you
realise that it is for the future survival of the
club.
The league has told us that our match at South
Park scheduled for Tuesday 20 th March will
have to be played on Thursday 22 nd March.
This is because South Park have to play a
county cup match on 20 th March and have no
free Tuesdays left.
As mentioned above we play Hythe Town
away on Saturday and South Park away on
Thursday 22 nd . After that it is a run of home
games (Shoreham, Greenwich Borough and
Thamesmead). Please note that we will play
Thamesmead at home on Good Friday (30 th
March), the fixture being bought forward from
the Saturday.