Seasiders players go without pay (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Seasiders players go without pay

12:01pm Friday 5th February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

FOUR FC Clacton players have sacrificed their wages in order to ease pressure on the club’s “battered finances”.

The quartet, plus manager David Coyle, are going without pay while the Seasiders deal with their lack of income, due to recent inactivity at the Rush Green Bowl.

The bad weather has led to a string of postponements, including two more in the last week.

High-flying Gorleston were due to visit last Saturday and then neighbours Halstead Town on Tuesday.

Both should have attracted sizeable crowds – but both had to be called off due to the state of the pitch.

Co-owner Stephen Andrews admitted the midweek postponement was “another massive blow to already battered finances” and that the “pressure is mounting”.

Now Coyle says some of his players have volunteered to go without pay to help ease the situation.

“Four of them are playing for nothing,” he told the Gazette.

“They haven’t been asked to, but they understand the club’s position and they’ve said they’ll go without in the meantime while the club is so short of money.

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s a great gesture and shows the unbelievable spirit in the squad.

“Non-league footballers have a reputation for jumping ship and moving around the clubs when they feel they can earn more money.

“But my players are special and understand how difficult and crippling the situation is.

“What’s happening at the moment can be disheartening and you feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall, so things like this give you a lift and make a real difference.”

Coyle said the club were “absolutely desperate” to get a game on at the Bowl, having only staged one match since December 11.

And the Seasiders boss has urged fans to turn out in numbers for Tuesday’s rearranged First Division Knockout Cup quarter-final against Saffron Walden (kick-off 7.45pm).

“We made a loss on the first game (which was abandoned), by the time the officials had taken their money and travelling expenses had been paid to Saffron Walden,” said Coyle.

“So we need a minimum of 100 people over there next Tuesday.

“It’s a really important game for the club, both on and off the pitch.”

Before then, Clacton have a Ridgeons League division one match at Swaffham on Saturday (3pm).

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)