WITTON ALBION FOOTBALL CLUB
PRESS RELEASE
SAMSARA
Graham Wood, the acting Chairman of Witton Albion Football Club, has issued the following
statement:
“Witton Albion have been relegated from the Northern Premier League – Premier Division despite
our final result of the season – a 4-0 home win against Basford United. We have enjoyed a fabulous
return to form in the final five games of the season which saw the team achieve 12 points from the
available 15 - a run that was the third best in the league.
In reality, the damage had already been done earlier in the season, with a very poor run that saw us
only gaining one point from an available 24.
The Board are obviously disappointed with this outcome for the current season but would like to
thank the players and management for their sterling efforts in the last few games.
However, the Board believe time has come for a change. Accordingly, we have informed Carl
Macauley and Gary Martindale that we will not be renewing their contracts when they come to an
end in May. Carl and Gary have done a great job for us during their tenure, and I have enjoyed
working with them during my time as Acting Chairman. I wish them well for the future and would
like to thank them for their service to the club particularly Carl who was appointed Manager in 2015
and played 89 times for the club between 1994-1996.
No further changes are planned at this stage pending the appointment of a new Manager.
The Board have discussed our future plans and are currently working on a playing budget for next
season. We have commenced our search for a new Manager and would hope to make an
announcement within the next few weeks.
Finally, I would like to put on record the Board’s appreciation for our fabulous volunteers who,
together with our fans, are the life blood of our club. Without their support the club would find it
very difficult to operate as effectively as it does. There are too many volunteers to mention all of
you individually – you know who you are and your efforts are very much appreciated by myself and
the Board. We have a great stadium and with the fans and volunteers behind the new Manager I am
sure we will soon be enjoying quality football again at the U-LockIT Stadium.”
There is a fans’ meeting at the Social Club scheduled for Thursday evening at 19:00 which will give all
supporters the opportunity of discussing anything relating to the club and the team with Graham and
other Board Members. Notices will also soon be going out to shareholders to confirm the date of the
Annual General Meeting as 26th May which will also be held in the Social Club.
Big mistake simple as that, no two better men for keeping things calm but there has been some nasty vibes on the forum recently. So it was always going to happen.
A big mistake, I’m guessing the budget will be cut for next season (again) so who better to work on a small budget than 2 managers who have worked on a small budget, they deserve a chance to try and get the team promoted.
Good luck to them both I’m sure they will be back in football soon & good luck to the players as I can’t see too many staying now the management have gone as they were loyal to Carl & Gary.
Big mistake, with respect to you Graham, seems ‘‘fan-power’’ has won. I agree for once with ‘‘distant’’ & it seems Nantwich will be getting a new centre-back, maybe the best in the league.
Good luck to the new man, he’s got a job on his hands, and I have said to several supporters, to quote our previous chairman ‘‘Be careful what you wish for.’’
So now it is over to Knutsfordian to explain to you of his plans to a merger with… ! And he will resurect Mid-cheshire football for all! Good luck with that one!
To be fair, the football this season has been dreadful to watch, you can tell that from the attendances. The fact certain players will leave now is no loss, as they simply haven’t been good enough.
Carl and Gary have had some great times with the club which we are thankful for those times, but the chairman has decided to freshen things up, and after 6 years was probably needed.
Sorry but I’ve just had a look at the league website (quiet at work) for average attendances over the last 5 seasons.
Season 17/18 when the team finished 7th, the average attendance was 303. All seasons in between the averages have been 362, 376, 377 & this season 368. So let’s not pretend Witton have been a massively supported club over the last few years.
The football hasn’t been great but there are other reasons people haven’t been going, finances & there are so many other things to do and sadly people passing away.
It’s easy to blame the management for fans not attending but the figures don’t lie, Witton have not lost hundreds of fans due to the style of football they just haven’t been coming for a while.
Sorry to but in. If you are not too busy Knutsfordian, your friends at 1874 (your other team) are waiting for an update on last night’s meeting!
You know how they love to know OUR business!
Well Flav, I am, not sure what you want me to say. Carl has gone and it looks like a reduced budget to keep the club afloat in a lower league. I wasn’t at the meeting (as I had previously indicated) so I am not sure what the Chairman said about his plans or the financing of the club.
What I have said is that the Board should look at all options to enable extra investment to made in the club including looking at the current shareholder distribution, company governance and also the possibility of bringing mid Cheshire clubs together to deliver a club that can compete at a higher level than that we now find ourselves.
In the end the shareholders of WAFC will decide what can be done, but we need to do something to break this cycle of struggle and decline. My question to Flav (and everyone else really) is what is it you want and what are you prepared to go with? What would your solution be?
I am NOT criticising players, officers, volunteers, players or management teams. I just think the way we operate is inevitably one leading to more struggle and decline - and somehow we need to halt this and at the same time get some joy back into this club.
This club has some great people and brilliant volunteers - but on its own that is not going to be enough to keep us going in perpetuity.
DW, fair point with the stats but would be interesting to know how many of those are repeat season ticket holders, as the numbers in the ground definitely didn’t look similar to previous seasons.
Not trying portion blame on the management team but, no one can deny we have been very poor this season. New era under the new chairman and excited to see some new players coming in.
Time to move on now! Let’s try to get behind the Chairman and new manager obviously a lot depends on getting a good replacement for Carl and raising a budget to compete! I would just like to see us being more attacking in our style and like Jonny, looking forward to seeing new players come in. UTA
And I accept that we need to make preparations for the new season and get behind the Chairman and teams