Sacked Ken gets Trotters’ backing

BOLTON fans were shocked when Southend sacked long-serving groundsman Ken Hare in the aftermath of the postponed match against their club last weekend – and they’re trying to get him his job back. Hare had worked for the Shrimpers for 27 years but was held responsible for the game falling foul of a frozen pitch. Hundreds of Trotters fans had a wasted journey to the match, but have led calls for Hare to be reinstated. Indeed, they’ve even set up a petition on change.org – and more than 2,000 people have signed it. Whether it will have any affect remains to be seen. Southend defended their move, saying: “The necessary decision surrounding Mr Hare was a disappointment and of course not taken lightly.”