Debenham LC chairman Chris Conway on why the club parted ways with manager Jason Cook after nine games
Chris Conway says the fear of Debenham LC being unable to field a side was behind manager Jason Cook’s departure from the club.
A run of four straight defeats had seen the club drop to the bottom of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North table, with Cook set to take the Hornets to his former club Diss Town on Saturday.
But Cook announced his time at Friends Meadow had come to an end last Thursday afternoon, with his tenure lasting nine games, having only taken over in January.
“It was mainly on Tuesday night (last week) when things came to a head really,” Debenham’s chairman Conway explained.
“I’m not going to go into it too much and badmouth Jason, but the main reason wasn’t all about results.
“The main reason was since he came in, and it’s only been nine games, we’ve been steadily losing player after player which weren’t being replaced by the same sort of standard.
“They were being replaced by players from two or three leagues below and on Tuesday after training there was going to be several more leaving.
“The last thing we want to do is make the club into a bit of a circus, but we wouldn’t be fielding a team in a couple of weeks.
“Jason’s got a different take on that and he’s entitled to his opinion. At the end of the day he’s put his effort in, but unfortunately the change has been forced on me.”
Following Cook’s departure, Debenham announced that Andrew Crisp would be taking over until the end of the season.
Crisp had started the 2022/23 campaign as assistant to former Hornets boss Guy Hayes, with his spell at the helm starting with a 0-0 draw away at Diss at the weekend.
A stalemate looked likely during the first hour at Brewers Green Lane as neither goalkeeper was seriously tested, before both sides created chances in an exciting finale.
A Kieran Hagan corner for the home side was headed onto the inside of the post by Ray Urry, while at the other end Diss goalkeeper Alex Curl used his feet to block an effort from Reece Golding.
The Tangerines hit the post again moments later, this time through Spencer Cawcutt, before Debenham’s number one Dan Stobbart made a fine save to deny James Sillet, with Cawcutt’s follow up shot blocked on the line by a defender in added time.
Debenham (19th) are two points adrift at the bottom ahead of hosting play-off chasers AFC Sudbury Reserves, while Diss (12th) can do the Hornets a favour with a victory at Swaffham Town (both tomorrow, 3pm).
Elsewhere in the First Division North, Framlingham Town’s title hopes were dented after a 1-0 home defeat to Huntingdon Town on Saturday.
The Castlemen (2nd) are now four points behind the leaders Heacham, who also have a game in hand, with Liam Abraham’s side looking to bounce back at home to Haverhill Borough tomorrow (3pm).
Up into the Premier Division, Harleston Town (6th) saw their winless run stretch to five games after losing 1-0 at home to Mildenhall Town at the weekend.
Walsham-le-Willows (12th) also tasted defeat on Saturday, losing 3-1 at leaders Thetford Town, with Scott Chaplin on target for the Willows.
Tomorrow, Harleston go to Fakenham and Walsham host Ipswich Wanderers (both 3pm), with Harleston also in action at home to Fakenham Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).
