AFC Wallingford Official Website

Despite the disastrous looking results we are pleased to have made it through the weekend after manager Carl Fisher resigned last week.

Carl decided to call it a day after just four games because he was unable to put together a competitive squad. A group of talented Wallingford players brought Carl enormous success as a manager in the North Berks League. It was a big disappointment to Carl that almost all of them decided to play park football elsewhere rather than stepping up to a level for which they undoubtedly had the skills. We wish Carl all the best, and know he will enjoy spending more time with his young family.

An enormous vote of thanks must go to club coach Shelley Strange, who agreed to take charge of fielding a side for our two Bank Holiday matches. It was a brave decision for the 21 year old, with no management experience and limited coaching time in mens football, to take responsibility for two games we fully expected to lose. Thanks also go to Mike Fellows and the six players he brought over from RAF Brize Norton. Without them we would have struggled to field a full eleven.

There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel. Progress has been made in the search for a replacement for Carl. We are confident we will have a new management team in place in time to take a competitive side to Harrow Hill on Saturday. Shelley will remain with the club as coach, with the full support of the committee and current players. The crisis has also triggered offers of support that should bolster and revitalise the committee that runs the club.

The fact that this crisis has occurred so early in the season means we have time to recover and be competitive over the remaining eight months. We still believe we can turn the situation around and finish comfortably clear of relegation this season.

Gerry O’Garr

Chairman