Chester Statement
First of all I would like to apologise to all the long suffering fans of Tilbury Football Club for how the club is being run by the current committee.
The club is suspended from all football until the FA have completed its investigation into 6 different charges ranging from falsifying attendances by Senior Club official at meetings, to which entity the Club has traded during the recently completed 2009/10 season.
The Ltd company that runs the club has been suspended from making any footballing decisions therefore the sacking of myself, Tony, Coaching staff, Match Secretary Paul Tandy and Club Secretary Mark Southgate is not recognised by the Ryman League nor indeed the FA.
When I was offered the job 2 years ago, I was promised a new stadium within two years, I was informed that there would be £2 million placed in the bank of which we could use the interest for the playing budget. Until then I could have £600 per week but £100 towards the pysio leaving just £500 for the 1st team.
After knocking on doors of local businessmen in Thurrock, we significantly raised the budget to something more realistic to complete in the league. I also paid £3,000 out of my own pocket to fix the pitch and paint the ground before the friendly we arranged with West Ham United. I painted every single brick on the back wall and I personally paid for the changing rooms to be steamed cleaned. We had over 800 people there that night.
We increased the attendance by 26% that season and went on begging with cap in hand to raise more money for the playing budget. By Christmas 2008 The Chairman - Robbie Nash reduced the Clubs contribution to just £200 per week. We still went on to win the Ryman League Cup. The last time this was achieved at Tilbury was 37 years ago. We finished 11th in the league, we also set up the academy namely "Tilbury Youth" with the help of many local people led by newly appointed Youth Secretary Craig Gibson, 3 of the 4 Youth teams brought further glory to the Club by winning silverware in their first season.
This season the Chairman cut his contribution to the budget completely in October 2009. We then won the East Anglian Cup for the first in clubs history and once again finished 11th in the league table. As this goes to press one of our youth teams have already won the Eastern Junior Alliance League and three more are on schedule also to win their respective leagues.
This has all been achieved without a single penny from the so called committee or trustees? In 2 years at the helm I've Won 2 Cups the team of the year award and several team performances of the month awards.
Over 2 seasons I've lost only 10 games in 42 at home. The failure by the club not to put key players on contracts hasn't helped my cause, just look at the players we lost through the season? So this decision by the committee is not performance related. How many managers have to find their own budget, fund Youth teams and reserves? Pay for and build websites?, win cups and then get sacked?
It's been a privilege to work alongside the people who really care about the club including without doubt the best and most vocal fans in the league by a mile. These bunch of guys who are so passionate about their Football Club have been the best thing about the club for myself and Tony. When you hear these guys sing it makes my job the best in the world and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
The sacking of Paul Tandy the Match secretary and the guy who looks after all the press and Internet beggars beyond belief. This fella lives in Sittingbourne in Kent and is at every home and away game, his contribution to the club goes far and beyond the call of duty and he, like the rest of us work voluntary.
Mark Southgate is more than just a Club Secretary, he is Mr Tilbury himself, he is without doubt the Clubs biggest fan and his complete devotion to the Club is second to none. How in god's name do you get rid of someone like that. Well I'll tell you why? because of his refusal to be part of this raping of his clubs assets.
I can only apologise on behalf of the above individuals for the behaviour of the club so called Trustees and officials. This is not over yet by a long way and we wait with baited breath that the FA will do the right thing and hand back Tilbury Football Club into the rightful care of people that have the clubs best interest at heart and not their own!
Finally,I would like wish Mr Paul Vaughan all the success in his new job, I hear he has got a lot experience with Under 16s?
Cheers Chester
