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18th
May
2004
Gornal Managers Depart - Chairman Predicts Top Six Finish Next Season Gornal Athletic Joint Managers Martin Thomas and Tony Wall have left Garden Walk after failing to get the backing of the Club Committee for next season - just days after proudly displaying the West Midlands Division 1 South championship trophy with their title-winning team. A statement on the Peacocks' website by Chairman Chris Smith explained that the pair resigned on 'entirely amicable' terms and that a new manager would be named soon. This contrasts alarmingly with the views of Tony Wall, who told Yampy today that Youth Team boss Simon Williams is the new Manager and that, far from resigning, they were told that they would not be offered the job for next season as the Committee didn't want them. Simon and brother Kevin are two of the eight members on the Committee and a disappointed Tony Wall explained to us that he had suspected for some time that his days were numbered: "Halfway through the season I told Smith that I felt he would get rid of us and put Williams in, but the Chairman denied this at the time" said Tony, who went on to allege that some of the Committee members haven't seen a first team game all season. Though Thomas and Wall have built a successful team at Garden Walk, the stakes are higher in the Premier Division and the duo were aware that ambitious steps both on and off the pitch would be necessary to maintain the pace of recent improvements. It appears that the Club Committee wishes to proceed more cautiously. This is not an unreasonable approach but does sit awkwardly with the dramatic "Dr. Martens League and beyond" ground move plans that were high on the agenda early in the season - plans that helped to attract the experienced Thomas and Wall in the first place. "Why did they not give Williams the job of getting them promotion?" asks Tony Wall (Simon was connected with the club at the time of Richard Upton's departure last year but Wall and Thomas were nevertheless brought in). "We feel we have been used to get Gornal promotion. My comment at the start of the season to the press was 'If we dont get promotion then sack us.' I didn't think they would get rid of us for winning the first Senior League title in their history!". Thomas and Wall are now bouncing back by taking over at Bilston Town, having passed up a similar opportunity this season when they came to Garden Walk instead. We asked Chris Smith to comment on this article but he refused, sending us instead a profile on the new manager detailing Simon's considerable achievements in Youth League football. Smith did however move to counter any impression that there was a lack of ambition at the club, saying: "The Management Committee was unanimous in appointing Simon to the position and we are of the firm belief that he will deliver our new target of a top six position in the Premier Division next season". An incredibly tall order - but one that would go a long way towards vindicating the club's frankly baffling treatment of Wall and Thomas. Good luck anyway to Simon and the new squad for next season. Here's the official club statement: "Gornal Athletic’s Management Committee has accepted the resignations of joint First Team managers Martin Thomas and Tony Wall. Announcing the decision, Club Chairman Chris Smith explained: "Both the managers and the Club are ambitous - but it became clear that we do not share the same ambitions. Martin and Tony thought about it and offered their resignations. The Club Committee considered that it was best for both parties to accept the resignations. The parting of the ways was entirely amicable and we wish both Martin and Tony all the very best for the future. They have done a splendid job for us and they have every right to be extremely proud of what they achieved for us. We anticipate naming our new manager early next week." In addition to the departure of the First Team managers, Richard Gwinnett - the Club’s Secretary - has also resigned. www.gafc.org.uk sport@yampy.co.uk. --> |
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