Stones boss has confidence vote

WEALDSTONE FC

CHAIRMAN Peter Marsden says Gordon Bartlett’s job at Wealdstone is safe – for the time being at least, writes Jon Batham.

Speculation had been mounting over the last week that Marsden was about to call time on the longest serving manager in the English professional or semi-professional game, who has clocked up 21 years in charge of the Stones.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hungerford only fanned the flames, prompting Wealdstone to release a Twitter statement that said: “Peter Marsden has categorically stated that Gordon Bartlett remains manager.”

Asked by The Gazette to elaborate, the former Accrington Stanley supremo was at pains to point out that, unlike some, he doesn’t have a reputation for being trigger-happy. But at the same time, it is clear patience in such a competitive industry doesn’t last forever.

“Both myself and the supporters have been very disappointed with recent results, particularly as we have a good squad this year,” said Marsden, pictured. “Things don’t always go to plan, but we are confident Gordon, whose pedigree in the game is second to none, can turn this around.

“You could look at my track record at Accrington and see I don’t sack managers lightly. I generally like to keep them, while most chairmen get rid of managers too quickly, in my opinion. That said, Gordon himself knows football is a results business, and this losing sequence cannot be allowed to go on indefinitely.”

Interestingly, Marsden’s predecessor in the boss’ chair, Howard Krais, was quick to greet the news Bartlett would be staying on, and warned the current hierarchy to go lightly on the trigger.

“So, it appears [the] rumours are not true. That’s good. Sitting totally mid table, 10 points from [the] play-offs, 10 points from relegation. Not a crisis!” he said. “People need to think about what they wish for, what club they want us to be, and be very careful. Hire-and-fire rarely works out, long-term.”

The Stones host Maidenhead United in the FA Trophy on Saturday before travelling to Bedfont & Feltham to take on CB Hounslow United in the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup on Tuesday night.