Former boss under fire from Bards chairman

STRATFORD Town’s chairman has hit out at former boss Gavin Hurren’s lack of respect surrounding his move to Hednesford Town.

But he added that due to the calibre and number of applicants for the vacant Bards post, he would not be rushing into making a decision ahead of this weekend’s trip to Hitchin Town.

Speaking to the Herald this week, Jed McCrory said: “From a personal point of view I am sad and very disappointed that the manager has not rung me to say he wanted to leave and the reasons why. I told him three weeks ago that I had heard the rumours and asked that he was respectful towards the fans, the club and the community.

“I had a phone call saying that Hednesford had spoken to him about the job and was then told on our heritage day - when we also remembered those that we had lost - that he had been offered the job. I approached Gav after the game but he denied it categorically.

“I remember when he came into the club as a struggling manager and I'm delighted that the club, directors and players have enhanced his reputation allowing him to move on to a new venture.

“There has always been mutual respect between the club and managers so to say I’m disappointed with Gavin would be an understatement.”

Coaches Paul Davis and Chris Hussey had been due to take charge for the Birmingham Senior Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion in midweek before it was snowed off and the pair will be in charge on Saturday.

McCrory added: “The club has been inundated with applications and I have been pleasantly surprised by the number and calibre of those who have applied which shows how highly Stratford Town is now regarded.

“It has taken me aback and to be fair to everyone, we will be reviewing them all over the next few days. We will have Paul Davis and Chris Hussey picking up the reins on Saturday at Hitchin Town. They have said they don’t want to be considered for the job, they want to remain in a coaching capacity and I'm delighted to carry on with that.

“We have a good structure at the club with Paul and Chris along with Tom Sheppard doing the coaching which they have been doing since pre-season.

“The scouting is done by myself and a couple of scouts with 95 per cent of the signings being made by me. That has been done with the stability of the club in mind so when a manager goes, nothing really changes other than the picking of the team and the tactics and substitutions during a game.”

Hurren was unveiled as Hednesford Town’s new manager yesterday (Wednesday) three days after the Herald had predicted he would be taking the job. He will be joined at the Northern Premier West Division side by his former assistant at Stratford Town, Lee Vaughan.

He has not responded to a request for an interview since telling Town’s players that he was leaving prior to their 3-0 defeat at AFC Sudbury on Saturday.