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King Quits in Budget Cut Row - replaced by ex-Stringer
By Derrick Shaw, Express Sports Reporter
After two seasons in charge, when he led the Rooks to the Conference South Playoffs only to be denied the chance of promotion to the Conference National by on rules regarding Stadium standards, Lewes manager Steve King has quit the club after becoming embroiled in a row with Chairman Terry Parris over proposed cuts to his playing budget for the coming season. King, 40, said in a statement; "I have no desire to continue as Lewes manager with what I see as unworkable conditions".
Parris is believed to have cut the playing budget to £2200 a week in a bid to plough any spare cash into the Ground Improvements that are required for the club to progress further.
King's replacement is an interesting choice - former Hailsham Town centre forward Stuart Fairway has been handed his first managerial role at the age of 30 - being given an initial one year contract as Lewes manager. Reaction to the news has been mixed - many supporters though seem keen to give Fairway, a combative front man in his playing days - a chance, the logic being that few in the local area had heard of Steve King before he took the job.
Fairway has acted quickly to set up a comprehensive preseason programme, with Lewes travelling to his former side, Hailsham Town, a week Saturday (9th) before matches at home to Redbridge (Friday 15th), Gloucester City (Monday 18th), Hampton & Richmond (Sunday 24th), Tiverton (Wednesday 29th), Harrow Boro (Sunday 31st) and Burgess Hill (Wednesday 3rd August) ahead of the Conference South opener against St Albans , again at home, on Saturday August 13th. By far the biggest preseason game though comes on Thursday 21st July - Lewes due to face a Tottenham Hotspur XI at the Dripping Pan.
Here we go again. No false dawns - FM06 is a cracker IMHO, and with a release day patch that not only solves problems, but hasn't seemed to have created anything major either. I'm happy enough to play with it, and hopefully this can be a long-term game. I've long wanted to take Lewes all the way, and hopefully this can be the game in which I do it. Running all the English Leagues, plus the top two in Scotland, and the top leagues of France, Holland, Italy, Germany and Spain - as well as my own 'sussex'.dtt file to retain all players from many County League sides (for more information, see http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2/m/3152073861
good luck, d_s nice to see you back (hopefully long term) can't say i've been overly enamored with FM06 so far, certainly haven't gotten into the swing of it as quickly as I did with '05.
Cheers Terk - Hopefully I can make this into a rather long-term thing
King's resignation suprised everyone, including myself. My appointment though, it's fair to say, suprised me a little more. Pedigree? - pah, it's a dog food isn't it? - I've certainly got little as a football manager. A journeyman (throughout Sussex, anyway), clogger, I scored a fair few goals in my time but couldn't ever seem to make the step up. Still, I have now, and it's three cheers to the future. At least Kingy's assistant, Stuart Cash , decided to stay - as have physio Steve Fox and scout Paul Patterson - though I'll be advertising for a new Coach as well as an additional Scout.
The squad, as with many at this level, is somewhat small - and given the budget situation, perhaps that's for the best. I've got a squad of 15, with just one - Paul Wilkerson - a member of the Goalkeepers Union. Looking at the rest of the squad, some of whom I know personally from the past, others who are just names on a page to me at the moment, it seems that a 4-4-2 style formation best suits the players we have available.
In defence, ex-Peterborough left back Dean Hooper is the standout player, with club favourite Jay Lovett also adequate on the right. In the middle, ex-Hailsham Town man Leon Legge should be able to make the step up, and ex-Torquay defender Sean Hankin will certainly be good enough to make the step down. Max Hustwick certainly works hard, whilst teenage right back Steve Robinson is eyecatching, but perhaps lacks the basics. Another option on the left - though he can play in midfield - is another former Peterborough man, Mark Coulson , also a teenager at 19.
Club captain Paul Kennett rules the roost in midfield - with Karl Beckford providing the flair in contrast to Kennett's grit and drive. Ex-Crawley right winger Mo Harkin is at his best while running with the ball, but the only real option on the left, Kirk Watts is quick, but lacks control.
While four midfielders is a little on the short side, three strikers are adequate for the moment - and with ex-Spurs starlet Owen Price - the nephew of the former manager - on the clubs' books, we should have a player who is capable of striking fear into opponents hearts. Fan favourite Jean-Michel Sigire - or 'Ziggy' to the faithful - is quick, strong and composed in front of goal, and is another type of player altogether to young Price. 25-year old left-footer Gavin Holligan , once of Wycombe and West Ham, completes the strike trio - and though he could perhaps do with losing a bit of weight, is a natural 'poacher' in the Shearer mould.
For my first match in charge, I've taken guidance from another young, successful - and Non League - manager. Alex Ingelthorpe, in charge at Exeter City, once said; "As a young manager I think you have to be bold and be a little bit brave in doing what you believe". I've done that - gone with my 'gut instinct' first eleven that I had in my mind within a couple of training sessions after taking control. On the bench, youth teamers Leach and Barker both have shown potential according to Cash, so are included while I assess their claims for a contract.
We began brightly, and quickly put the Stringers under pressure. After Holligan had fired wide, and Furber had to be alert to hook away a dangerous swinging cross, Gavin Holligan stabbed home in the aftermath of a Beckford corner to put us ahead on 36. Unfortunatley, the lead wouldn't last - it was perhaps more of a cross than a shot, but whatever his intentions, Mark French managed to lift the ball over Wilkerson and dipped it into the corner of the net from a tight angle to see the sides level at the break. We made four changes, with youth team prospect Barker amongst those coming on - he could have opened his Lewes account, and really given me food for thought, with the first chance of the second half, but instead shot wide after good work by Price. Sigire replaced Price on the hour, and we shifted to a more direct attacking style, which almost reaped dividends - the Frenchman close with a header on 72. Eventually, pressure told - Martin Richardson's error, and Jean-Michel Sigire's persistence, paying off, with the striker intercepting a loose pass to slam past Oldroyd. The dangerous Barker certainly impressed after coming on, whilst the home side certainly improved after the addition of young Ashley Jarvis after the interval. He too, is a teenager who I'll keep my eye on.
Scout Paul Patterson's weekend reporting has thrown up a name - Russ Tanner , 24, is a goalkeeper who 'slipped through the net' - he had a three-month spell at Lewes a couple of years back, but found himself second in the pecking order, and when costs needed to be cut, released to play County League football.
He's currently at Eastbourne Town , but Patterson - who, it has to be said, is a relic of the pre-King era - reckons that he deserves another crack of the whip. With just the one senior 'keeper, I too think it could be a good idea to bring him in. By Wednesday, we've got competition - Histon , newcomers to the Conference South, are too 'blessed' with just one stopper, but hopefully being local to his home, Russ will choose Lewes over Cambridgeshire.
Wednesday is also a good day for 16-year old Steve Barker - he's quick and exciting, and perhaps suprisingly for a youngster, is no pushover - stocky and strong to boot. He could go a long way, and it was with great pleasure that I found myself offering him a contract until the end of the season. As he won't turn 17 until nearly Christmas, it will have to be a 'Youth' contract for the time being - a bit of a risk to ourselves, in that he could be poached by a bigger club, but hopefully we'll be able to keep him under wraps for a while yet.
It was Friday morning when Eastbourne Town replied regarding Tanner - the bid for the 'keeper - in itself, nothing, but 10% should we sell him on - accepted. Histon too were given permission to talk terms, but we decided to strike first, putting a good package together for the 24-year old before he had time to meet Histon boss Steve Fallon. Potentially better still, Steve Barker put pen to paper - joining the club who he first became associated with - and this will make you (it certainly did me) - feel old - 10 years ago, in 1995 - Steve was just 7 at the time. Git.
Friday also saw rumours. Rumours of transfer activities - Kirk Watts apparently the target of two Conference National sides. A player who, in my opening few days at the club, failed to impress, Watts will perhaps be suprised at the interest. Whatever, he's in the squad for tonight's game.
It's actually an unchanged starting eleven for my first home match - although given that we play on a Friday night, I'm expecting a sparse attendance. Still, at least it's a warm, summer evening - with Roger the Groundsman not turning on the floodlights ahead of kickoff, such is the time of year. Things began well enough - Owen Price nipping on - as could become his trademark - to take advantage of a sloppy backpass and beat 'keeper Masters, who didn't help matters by coming out to gather, then changing his mind and furiously backpedalling only to watch the ball into the net. Unfortunatley, it was our bright spot - it came far too early. Redbridge offered plenty, and quickly wore our hard-pressed midfield down with some quick, pacey interchanges. After seeing one ruled out for offside before the break, the visitors levelled when Terry John stabbed home on 69. Changes, including the addition of young Barker, didn't seem to have much effect, and Redbridge grabbed a second when Paul Spencer reacted quickest on 82, again benefitting from some penalty box pinball. The defeat, although 'meaningless', is still a bitter pill to swallow.
Build a Bonfire - Scare a Rook 
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