What next?
By Adam Summers
Friday 14th November 2008
CRISIS club Weymouth has put manager John Hollins on gardening leave.
The Terras’ boss has been released from his duties while the club carries out an investigation into whether there has been a breach of contract by a member of the management team.
In a statement released yesterday it was anticipated that the process would be complete within the next 28 days.
When Echosport spoke to Hollins yesterday he confirmed he was on gardening leave but could not elaborate further.
This upheaval has added to the club’s recent woes as chairman Malcolm Curtis continues to consider bids as he looks to offload the cash-strapped club.
Assistant-boss Alan Lewer will assume the role of managing the first team until further notice.
The former Cambridge United coach will take over the reins tomorrow as his side try and deliver three points at home to Wrexham, who have yet to lose a league encounter since Dean Saunders took charge.
And Lewer believes the Terras have what it takes to beat the Red Dragons at the Wessex Stadium (3pm).
The Terras have lost their last two games at the Wessex – the FA Cup defeat to AFC Hornchurch and the Setanta Shield exit at the hands of Torquay – but they have not been beaten at home in the Blue Square Premier since a 2-1 loss against Kidder-minster Harriers in September.
Lewer said: “If you look after your home form then the rest looks after itself. We set ourselves a points target at the start of the season but we’re a little bit behind it at the moment. There’s nothing to fear from anybody in the league. We’ll give Wrexham the respect they deserve, they were a League club until last season, they are close to the play-offs, and I’m sure Dean Saunders will want to keep his run going.”
Hollins and Lewer have been in charge at Weymouth for almost 10 months and last season they helped the Terras avoid relegation. This term the club lies 11th in the table, one point behind tomorrow’s visitors and just four adrift of the play-offs.
Lewer added: “There’s been a massive improvement but we should give the lads the credit they deserve. A lot of young lads have come in from good footballing backgrounds and we’ve built experience around them.
“At the end of the day we’ll give anyone a game and that can be said for every team in the league as no one’s running away with it.
“Nine times out of 10 it’s about who wants to work harder.”
Pierre Joseph-Dubois (illness), Sam Cutler (illness) and Santos Gaia (ankle) all missed the 1-0 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds last Saturday but Lewer is hopeful all three will be in contention tomorrow.
He said: “Hopefully they’ll all be fit enough to play a part against Wrexham. We’ve got a small squad but they’re together and have ambitions to be in and around the play-offs.”
Weymouth will come face to face with former striker Jefferson Louis who, after being top scorer for the Terras last season, is now the Red Dragons’ leading marksman.
Lewer is fully aware of the potential threat Louis poses. He added: “I signed him at Forest Green Rovers and on his day he can hurt anybody. He also has a habit where every old club he goes back to he scores against, hopefully we’ll nullify the threat.”
Wrexham’s Kyle Critchell, who made 42 appearances for the Terras last term, is out with an ankle injury.
n Crawley Town have pulled out of a deal to sign Weymouth forward Stuart Beavon despite tabling a five-figure bid.
Took this off the offical Muff site though all it says is a suspected breach by a member of the management team is being investigated