Brooker Closes Down His Abbey Account (From This is Hampshire)

Brooker Closes Down His Abbey Account

9:30am Thursday 1st March 2001 in

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March 1, 2001 14:38: GARY BROOKER has resigned as manager of Waltham Abbey FC, following what he describes as "political disagreements" within the club.

The stricken South Midlands League Premier Division outfit played their first home game since October on Saturday, suffering a 1-0 defeat against London Colney.

This followed another league defeat, a 1-0 loss at Milton Keynes City last Thursday and Brooker resigned after Saturday's game.

Abbey were unable to play at their Capershotts ground for four months because the pitch was badly damaged by flooding.

This week Brooker said: "A lot of things had gone on behind the scenes. I found it hard to agree with some of the politics there, so I felt I had to leave."

Waltham Abbey lie rock bottom of the division. They have played as many as ten games less than some of the teams above them, but have only four points from their 14 league games so far this campaign.

Although he had previously remained confident, Brooker said his team were comparable to one just starting a season and hinted that, by the time they get a run together, it could be too late.

Waltham Abbey chairman Joe Collins said he could fully understand Brooker's decision to leave the club given their current predicament.

He said: "Gary had hinted to me earlier in the year that he was getting down. I think in the end he'd just had enough of the situation the club are in.

"I just hope we can turn this around. To be honest I really can't wait until next season starts. Then we can at least start afresh. This year has been a joke."

Lee Johnson, who had worked with Brooker in a coaching role at the club, now takes the reigns until the end of the season.

By.Charlie Stong