Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sacked on holiday
Chippenham boss Steve Winter has been sacked on his 40th birthday - while on a surprise celebratory holiday.
Winter received the bad news after his side were beaten 9-0 at home to Stourbridge with the club languishing fourth from bottom in the Southern League Premier Division.
He had only been in the job six weeks after stepping up from assistant following Nathan Rudge's exit just two games into the season.
Winter's wife arranged with the club for him to have time off during the season only for the Bluebirds to suffer a humiliating defeat.
Chippenham chairman Neil Blackmore told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: 'The club has been absolutely slaughtered online and in the media after the 9-0 drubbing - and rightly so - and we as a club had to be seen to be doing something about it. That's why we decided to relieve Steve and Adam of their duties with immediate effect.'
Blackmore added on BBC Wiltshire: 'I spoke to Steve last night so he was aware of what went on at the game and what happened (at a board meeting). He was a complete gentleman as I expected him to be.
'He said he understood where I was coming from and what the board had to do. He's accepted the decision.
'We felt we had to do what was right for the club but it was made so much harder because I really do like Steve.'
Winter received the bad news after his side were beaten 9-0 at home to Stourbridge with the club languishing fourth from bottom in the Southern League Premier Division.
He had only been in the job six weeks after stepping up from assistant following Nathan Rudge's exit just two games into the season.
Winter's wife arranged with the club for him to have time off during the season only for the Bluebirds to suffer a humiliating defeat.
Chippenham chairman Neil Blackmore told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: 'The club has been absolutely slaughtered online and in the media after the 9-0 drubbing - and rightly so - and we as a club had to be seen to be doing something about it. That's why we decided to relieve Steve and Adam of their duties with immediate effect.'
Blackmore added on BBC Wiltshire: 'I spoke to Steve last night so he was aware of what went on at the game and what happened (at a board meeting). He was a complete gentleman as I expected him to be.
'He said he understood where I was coming from and what the board had to do. He's accepted the decision.
'We felt we had to do what was right for the club but it was made so much harder because I really do like Steve.'
