EALES CAN LEAD HOT MOORS TO NEW LEVEL
SOLIHULL Moors must be wondering when their good fortune will start to turn following the arrival of former Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales and Calvin Barnett, who took over the National League club this week.
It was only ten months ago that Moors were cut adrift at the foot of the table with just 11 points from 20 games and nailed on for relegation in their second season at Step 1.
But then Mark Yates led a stunning Great Escape, and now under former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers they’ve built on that momentum.
Eales became Oxford chairman in 2014, overseeing promotion into League One and also two visits to Wembley.
He sold the club to Thai businessman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth in February and has now stepped down from the Oxford board although still holds less than 10 per cent of shares in the club.
Eales’ model at Oxford was to sign young talented players and then sell them on for a significant profit. Kemar Roofe (£3m), Marvin Johnson (£2.5m), John Lundstrom (700k) are just some examples.
At Solihull, new chairman Eales has a – to use the dreaded word – ‘project’ on his hands. The club is a world away from what he picked up at Oxford four years ago.
Damson Park needs some improvements, to put it lightly, and the playing budget will have to almost double if Eales is to achieve his aim of reaching the Football League.
“I fondly remember watching Moor Green with my Dad when we lived in Robin Hood Lane,” said Eales on his arrival, high- lighting his attachment to the club before the merger with Solihull Borough in 2007.
“He was the one bit of hope left” read a text from one of my Oxford-supporting friends on Wednesday albeit perhaps being slightly overdramatic in the wake of their fourth defeat from four.
U’s supporters praised Eales’ PR although some were quick to highlight his appointment of manager Pep Clotet last season, who almost cost the club their League One status.
Ultimately, Eales and his investment into Oxford has left the club in a better place than when he found them – a rare outcome in football ownership nowadays and Solihull can look forward to their future.
Meanwhile, Chester have been forced to postpone their Bank Holiday Monday fixture with Hereford. It is the third match to be cancelled by the Blues after heavy rain caused severe water damage to electricals at the Deva two weeks ago – 24 hours after their 8-1 drubbing at Blyth Spartans.
It is somewhat ironic that the roof has, quite literally, caved in on the club after some of their supporters called for the National League to fine ‘tinpot’ Solihull when Chester’s opening match there last season was postponed due to safety issues, and then when Eastleigh’s pitch failed a late inspection.