Ex Shelton Seagull
New member
It looks as though the dream at ambitious Nationwide South club Hornchurch is over.
The Urchins shocked most of the non-League world when they announced that they would be turning full-time, appointed former Dagenham & Redbridge boss Garry Hill as manager an signed a whole host of former professionals and top non-League stars in the summer.
However, one of the chairman’s companies, understood to be Carthium, sponsors of the Conference League Cup competition, went bust this week, fuelling rumours that this would affect the football club.
And sure enough, a statement from the club was issued (see below), and even the club’s official website is now offline.
The statement reads:
Late on Wednesday evening, chairman Gary Calder and manager Garry Hill were informed that there would no longer be the funds available to sustain Nationwide South leaders Hornchurch.
Players and staff were issued wage cheques on Tuesday, but these were all stopped.
Calder said: "The party is over and the roller-coaster ride has come to an end. The club will continue playing football and will compete in the FA Trophy and the FA Cup. We are absolutely devastated.”
Manager Garry Hill said: "I feel the same as each and every person connected with this football club. I am empty inside. The league table doesn't lie. We all thought that we could take the club to the next level. After all it's November and we've only lost one league game. Everyone connected with club, the staff and players have worked hard and we need the supporters to rally round."
Coach Kevin Hales said: "It's not just the players and staff, it's their families as well. It's been a really traumatic day and we need 24 hours to clear our heads. Who knows what might happen, but there might be someone who will come forward and ask to take control of the club. We will be taking advice from everybody and we will see which way the ship steers next"
At the present time, Hill remains the manager.
Guess this makes Conference South a lot more interesting for Lewes and Bognor. Hornchurch were running away with the league but now it looks like they'll have to field their youth team for the rest of the season, that's if they even make it that far.
Means that Darren Caskey and Paul McCarthy are back on the market. Must be one hell of a shock to be part of a rich and all-powerful team only to wake up one morning and find it's all over.
A lesson to be learnt here about tying your fortunes to a company. When the company is doing well then you can afford top players and ground improvements. As soon as they run into trouble the football club is f*cked. It happened to Telford United last season and now it's happened to Hornchurch. Maybe wealthy businessmen aren't always the answer.
The Urchins shocked most of the non-League world when they announced that they would be turning full-time, appointed former Dagenham & Redbridge boss Garry Hill as manager an signed a whole host of former professionals and top non-League stars in the summer.
However, one of the chairman’s companies, understood to be Carthium, sponsors of the Conference League Cup competition, went bust this week, fuelling rumours that this would affect the football club.
And sure enough, a statement from the club was issued (see below), and even the club’s official website is now offline.
The statement reads:
Late on Wednesday evening, chairman Gary Calder and manager Garry Hill were informed that there would no longer be the funds available to sustain Nationwide South leaders Hornchurch.
Players and staff were issued wage cheques on Tuesday, but these were all stopped.
Calder said: "The party is over and the roller-coaster ride has come to an end. The club will continue playing football and will compete in the FA Trophy and the FA Cup. We are absolutely devastated.”
Manager Garry Hill said: "I feel the same as each and every person connected with this football club. I am empty inside. The league table doesn't lie. We all thought that we could take the club to the next level. After all it's November and we've only lost one league game. Everyone connected with club, the staff and players have worked hard and we need the supporters to rally round."
Coach Kevin Hales said: "It's not just the players and staff, it's their families as well. It's been a really traumatic day and we need 24 hours to clear our heads. Who knows what might happen, but there might be someone who will come forward and ask to take control of the club. We will be taking advice from everybody and we will see which way the ship steers next"
At the present time, Hill remains the manager.
Guess this makes Conference South a lot more interesting for Lewes and Bognor. Hornchurch were running away with the league but now it looks like they'll have to field their youth team for the rest of the season, that's if they even make it that far.
Means that Darren Caskey and Paul McCarthy are back on the market. Must be one hell of a shock to be part of a rich and all-powerful team only to wake up one morning and find it's all over.
A lesson to be learnt here about tying your fortunes to a company. When the company is doing well then you can afford top players and ground improvements. As soon as they run into trouble the football club is f*cked. It happened to Telford United last season and now it's happened to Hornchurch. Maybe wealthy businessmen aren't always the answer.
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