Worthing overlord Pook speaks on Bloor and relegation

He said: "Nobody could have worked harder for the club this season than Danny. He scoured the south coast to find players. He's been a part-time manager full-time. He's not the most experienced manager but he worked very well with me.

"But I have not been able to give the club much time in the last 18 months, owing to some personal tragedies in my life. When I was last around we were second in the league but others have been taking over the roles necessary.

"The management are not looking for anyone to leave the club. Some former Worthing players, popular with the Woodside faithful, will be returning to help as part of the management and coaching.

"Why were we relegated? One, we were not good enough. We had a full budget until October but it was to do with the quality of signings and the lack of quality players around. Players from London who come down are sometimes players who can't get into the sides up there.

"But our captain, Jamie Lawrence, has done a fantastic job and sweated buckets for the club. Others haven't played with their heart on their sleeves and been totally committed to the cause and it's cost us results. It's been the case all through the last 18 months.

"Second, there was a lack of commitment in some players, especially earlier in the season.

"Third, my family events overtook things, with the illness of my father.

"And fourth we've not had a lot of luck. Losing the Gladwish money, Steve Danahar dying, my family events. There were a lot of odd-goal defeats. A few wins instead of those and we'd still be up.

"We're now ready to move into phase two of the plan I started. To bring in young players along with top players with experience and get promotion next season. This season is a mere blip that we've come down from the Premier.

"The Victor Gladwish money deal was put in place to implement our youth policy. To provide work for young players to help them through their college time and provide opportunities for a career at Worthing FC. Now we've got to get back to the 1970s and 1980s when we had the cream of local young talent at the club. It's been proved that if you have too many players from outside the area it's difficult to bring on your young players. You have to ask if the best players available from oustide the area are better than the ones we can get in Sussex.

"The future has to be in Sussex youngsters. I believe that passionately. But you can't rush them. It can knock their confidence. Next season, they will be battle-hardened and they will be ready to take on the challenge.

"Off the pitch, we've got to be operational for all the months in the year. Ian Hart is going to be in a role as Youth and Community director. Jon Justice is going to help us with link-ups with schools. Alistair McKail is setting up a new committee for the general running of the club. And financially, the future is in good hands. Dave Agnew has been more involved since Christmas and the club will make huge leaps forward now.

"We've got to go forward with foundations from the bottom up. It's about being a self-sufficient club and not having a team we can't pay for. My roots are here, with my family associations at the club, my father, my brother also. I believe in Worthing and its community. But we need to be a happy club.

"Regarding talk about development of Woodside Road, I have no knowledge whatsoever of any plans. I've nothing in writing in front of me. I think there's just some rumour mongering.

Get the Herald for news about Worthing's Youth team and their England Schools internationals. And news of a major Worthing board meeting to discuss the future.