Mitch Hanson And Paul Riley Take Eastwood Town Reins

EASTWOOD TOWN club captain Mitch Hanson and defender Paul Riley have been appointed as the club’s caretaker managers.

The pair step into the breach following the resignation of John Ramshaw earlier this week.

Ramshaw quit Coronation Park on Wednesday, describing the past year as the worst of his football career.

In a statement posted on the club’s website, he said: “I have had some great times at this football club – the club’s first season in the Blue Square Conference North, winning the Unibond Northern Premier League Championship, reaching the Third Round Proper of the FA Cup are but a few.

“But I can quite honestly say, without reservation, that the past year has been the worst of my football career! Constant budget reductions and the uncertainty of wage payments have made my position untenable.

“More importantly the recent austerity measures imposed by the club mean that, once again, I no longer feel that with the current playing budget we can field a team that will be successful at this level of football.

“I have tried desperately to keep the club competitive but it has got to the point where I was not enjoying going to football anymore – and that is a terrible indictment for someone who has been passionately in love with this game for 55 years.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly and in some respects I feel that by doing so I am letting down a lot of very good people at Eastwood Town who are fighting tooth and nail to keep this football club alive. However, there comes a point when one has to say, ‘enough is enough’.

“Nor is it a reflection on my working relationship with the club’s owner Steve Lynch. I think Steve has had an unenviable task since taking over a club riddled with debt and hard decisions have had to be taken in the interest of keeping the club alive. Unfortunately they have only gone to accentuate my reasons for resigning.

“I would like to thank all of the players, staff and supporters who have show patience and understanding whilst standing by me in this adverse period of the club’s history. I wish the club and all of those seriously involved with it, the very best for the future and sincerely hope the current financial problems can be overcome.”