Manager's shock at sacking (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Manager's shock at sacking

10:36am Saturday 24th November 2007 in Football By Gazette Sport Reporter

Malmesbury Victoria manager Tommy Dryden and his assistant Phil Goulding have spoken of their shock at being asked to leave.

Dryden said: "As the management of the first team at Malmesbury Victoria, we have been asked to resign which has come as a great shock, out of the blue to myself and Phil.

"At no time was there any pressure put on us about results. I was called into a meeting arranged for 8:00pm on Tuesday, Phil was not asked, we discussed about the help needed down at the club and only touched on Saturdays game against Purton where we were very poor. That was all and we then moved on to other things. There was no mention at any time during the meeting about Phil and I being asked about results or resigning. When the meeting finished I left, but was unaware the rest of the comity stayed behind, and apparently the decision was made there and then.

"The chairman came over on Wednesday afternoon and gave me the news, since then I have learnt that the meeting on Tuesday night had began at 7:00pm with everybody there except myself and Phil, and our jobs within the club were discussed then without us knowing. Listening to what has been said since, it's seems to have been instigated by a senior play. We feel very disappointed and let down by the comity and feel it was very poorly handled.

"I have spoken to the players and they all were shocked at the decision. Phil and I would like to thank the players for their hard work over the last season and a half."