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UPDATED: Worthington follows Vince out of Witton
MIKE Worthington has quit as Witton Albion chairman after a decade at the helm.
He announced his departure yesterday, Tuesday, less than a week after manager Jim Vince walked out of Wincham Park following the team's failure to secure promotion for the second successive season.
"It's the right time to go," said Worthington, reading a prepared statement.
"I have no regrets apart from not delivering the promotion the club's supporters so richly deserve."
Director Mark Harris takes over as acting chairman.
His first job will be to fill the manager's vacancy following Vince's acrimonious exit last Wednesday.
He did not say whether the popular former manager would be the first person he calls.
"That's not my decision," he said.
"What I need to do now is talk to the rest of the board and it's imperative we move forward together as this is a democracy, not a dictatorship."
The Guardian spoke to Vince minutes after Worthington's announcement.
"Nobody has called me yet," he said.
Worthington's shock decision to leave ends a week to forget for Albion, who lost on penalties against Buxton in last Tuesday's UniBond Premier Division semi final play off.
Gateshead beat the Bucks on Saturday to pinch promotion to Blue Square North along with Fleetwood Town.
Worthington came in for criticism from Witton fans after Vince handed in his notice the morning after Witton's play off defeat.
The chairman stressed that neither the phone call, nor the reaction of Albion supporters in the past few days, was not the catalyst for his decision to resign.
"My decision has nothing to do with Jim Vince leaving the club," he said.
"I leave with no regrets and would have handled the past seven days exactly the same if I had my time again. To me Jim Vince is just another football manager."
Indeed, his resignation statement made no mention of the now former manager. Instead, Worthington hinted at other reasons that had hastened his choice.
"I came here initially for one year and I'm still around ten years on after putting in 25 hours a week working on behalf of the club.
"That does have an affect on your private life.
"My partner lost her mother on Saturday and we feel perhaps it is time to redress that balance.
"I always felt this would be the year I could step down as ten years is enough.
"I will let the supporters judge whether I have been a good chairman but I hope they will look back and see that the club is in better shape now than it was when I arrived."
Worthington has not severed ties completely, adding that he does plan to hold on to his shares for now.
"I will continue to provide advice and support to ensure continuity," he added in his statement.
Meanwhile Harris has ruled out taking the job on a permanent basis.
Instead his focus will be on finding a manager.
"This situation is not what I wanted," he said.
"But nor am I prepared to sit back and let things fall apart which is why I have agreed to take over."
He admitted the next 48 hours were crucial.
"I hope to have something to say to the supporters by then," he said.
"That's the least they deserve."
1:00pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: BIG DAVE NVFC, lostock on 12:37pm Tue 6 May 08
oh dear not a good summer for w****n is it
oh dear not a good summer for w****n is it
Posted by: Big Green Machine, NORTHWICH on 1:37pm Tue 6 May 08
Oh, it looks as if Jim Vince has got his way then?
Jim stomped his feet so much he has forced the man that steadied the W*tton ship out of the club.
Well good luck winning Unibond league with a Conference North budget Mr Vince - you have proved yourself to be bigger than the actual club - mind you, thats not hard......
Oh, it looks as if Jim Vince has got his way then?
Jim stomped his feet so much he has forced the man that steadied the W*tton ship out of the club.
Well good luck winning Unibond league with a Conference North budget Mr Vince - you have proved yourself to be bigger than the actual club - mind you, thats not hard......
Posted by: Greg on 1:48pm Tue 6 May 08
What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust!
What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust!
Posted by: john G on 2:03pm Tue 6 May 08
Looks like those spouting off last week have got their way, you should be proud. One can only assume you'll all be applying for the vacant post and applying your expertise to the task ahead.
Hope you've got a better plan to take the club forward, I wait with interest.
Looks like those spouting off last week have got their way, you should be proud. One can only assume you'll all be applying for the vacant post and applying your expertise to the task ahead.
Hope you've got a better plan to take the club forward, I wait with interest.
Posted by: Neil, Rudheath on 2:46pm Tue 6 May 08
Just heard mr worthington on cheshire fm, "I leave the club with no regrets and would have handled the past seven days exactly the same if I had my time again" if he had handled it differently both he and JV may still be at wincham park
Just heard mr worthington on cheshire fm, "I leave the club with no regrets and would have handled the past seven days exactly the same if I had my time again" if he had handled it differently both he and JV may still be at wincham park
Posted by: Dave, Northwich on 3:05pm Tue 6 May 08
[quote][bold]Greg[/bold] wrote:
What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust![/quote] Well, I guess you guys have got your way now.
I have to say I think this is a dark day for the club.
Has anyone got a clue who will step in long term?
No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
Have you thought about the rest of the board as well? I suspect that you will find several other members will be considering their position as well. I should imagine MW's son Paul won't be too keen on hanging around.
Any replacements yet? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
I suspect a lot of commerical sponsors and affiliates who contributed to the club on the basis of MW's involvement will be off too.
Any new sponsorship ideas? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
I really hope that you can convince JV to stay now because he will have a budget of a **** site less that he would have under MW.
A job well done by you and the other anti MW campaigners. When this is all done and dusted I think that you will find you had a decent chairman who put his own money in and an average Unibond manager, who has already seen his managerial high watermark and the only way is down.
Greg wrote:
What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust!
Well, I guess you guys have got your way now.
I have to say I think this is a dark day for the club.
Has anyone got a clue who will step in long term?
No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
Have you thought about the rest of the board as well? I suspect that you will find several other members will be considering their position as well. I should imagine MW's son Paul won't be too keen on hanging around.
Any replacements yet? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
I suspect a lot of commerical sponsors and affiliates who contributed to the club on the basis of MW's involvement will be off too.
Any new sponsorship ideas? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that.
I really hope that you can convince JV to stay now because he will have a budget of a **** site less that he would have under MW.
A job well done by you and the other anti MW campaigners. When this is all done and dusted I think that you will find you had a decent chairman who put his own money in and an average Unibond manager, who has already seen his managerial high watermark and the only way is down.
Posted by: Graham Egerton, Weaverham on 3:27pm Tue 6 May 08
Greg- you say the nvfc time bomb is taking, how is this??? vicsd are in the most stable position for years now with money behind them and taking over the ground. You have no manager or chairman,remember worthington is STILL the major share holder!Two years at the top of a league and still you fail to get out of it with 4 chances if you include the play offs. Just face it you lot have egg on your face as the party has been [bold]RAINED ON BIG[/bold] [bold]TIME[/bold] .WAFC Thanks agen for all the laughs just like last season.
Greg- you say the nvfc time bomb is taking, how is this??? vicsd are in the most stable position for years now with money behind them and taking over the ground. You have no manager or chairman,remember worthington is STILL the major share holder!Two years at the top of a league and still you fail to get out of it with 4 chances if you include the play offs. Just face it you lot have egg on your face as the party has been
RAINED ON BIG TIME .WAFC Thanks agen for all the laughs just like last season.
Posted by: Greg on 3:32pm Tue 6 May 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Greg[/bold] wrote: What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust![/quote] Well, I guess you guys have got your way now. I have to say I think this is a dark day for the club. Has anyone got a clue who will step in long term? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. Have you thought about the rest of the board as well? I suspect that you will find several other members will be considering their position as well. I should imagine MW\'s son Paul won\'t be too keen on hanging around. Any replacements yet? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. I suspect a lot of commerical sponsors and affiliates who contributed to the club on the basis of MW\'s involvement will be off too. Any new sponsorship ideas? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. I really hope that you can convince JV to stay now because he will have a budget of a **** site less that he would have under MW. A job well done by you and the other anti MW campaigners. When this is all done and dusted I think that you will find you had a decent chairman who put his own money in and an average Unibond manager, who has already seen his managerial high watermark and the only way is down. [/quote] Dave, that ridiculous rant alone shows how little you actually know
Dave wrote:
Greg wrote: What a ridiculous post from someone hiding behind a false name. The V*cs time bomb is ticking, 11 and a half months until you go bust!
Well, I guess you guys have got your way now. I have to say I think this is a dark day for the club. Has anyone got a clue who will step in long term? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. Have you thought about the rest of the board as well? I suspect that you will find several other members will be considering their position as well. I should imagine MW\'s son Paul won\'t be too keen on hanging around. Any replacements yet? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. I suspect a lot of commerical sponsors and affiliates who contributed to the club on the basis of MW\'s involvement will be off too. Any new sponsorship ideas? No? Well i guess you, Robbo and Greenie should have thought about that. I really hope that you can convince JV to stay now because he will have a budget of a **** site less that he would have under MW. A job well done by you and the other anti MW campaigners. When this is all done and dusted I think that you will find you had a decent chairman who put his own money in and an average Unibond manager, who has already seen his managerial high watermark and the only way is down.
Dave, that ridiculous rant alone shows how little you actually know
Posted by: Rob on 4:16pm Tue 6 May 08
What a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately the return of Jim is just untenable given what this will say to Mike and family. I thought the Board was accountable to its shareholders not the manager
What a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately the return of Jim is just untenable given what this will say to Mike and family. I thought the Board was accountable to its shareholders not the manager
Posted by: Kovet on 7:12pm Tue 6 May 08
Sorry to hear this, but MW still has the reins of WAFC.
Sorry to hear this, but MW still has the reins of WAFC.
Posted by: Vics fan on 9:48pm Tue 6 May 08
A very dark day in witton's history but not entirely unexpected given the turmoil at the club. I suspect there is alot more going on behind the scenes that doesn't bode well for witton, I take no pleasure in seeing another club in meltdown, after all we've seen our share at Vics over the last few years. Ironic then as Vics appear to have turned the corner and now on firm financial footing witton are going the other way. I suspect there is serious problems at witton, no chairman,no manager,no players,no fans at this rate, no money and no ambition. Sadly the only way for witton is backwards unless a major benefactor rescues them,even a ground move wouldn't solve the problem as certain major shareholders will want there investment back!! witton,tennants at VS in next 5 yrs?, I wouldn't rule it out!!
A very dark day in witton's history but not entirely unexpected given the turmoil at the club. I suspect there is alot more going on behind the scenes that doesn't bode well for witton, I take no pleasure in seeing another club in meltdown, after all we've seen our share at Vics over the last few years. Ironic then as Vics appear to have turned the corner and now on firm financial footing witton are going the other way. I suspect there is serious problems at witton, no chairman,no manager,no players,no fans at this rate, no money and no ambition. Sadly the only way for witton is backwards unless a major benefactor rescues them,even a ground move wouldn't solve the problem as certain major shareholders will want there investment back!! witton,tennants at VS in next 5 yrs?, I wouldn't rule it out!!
Posted by: Witton Forever on 11:09pm Tue 6 May 08
[quote][bold]Vics fan[/bold] wrote:
A very dark day in witton's history but not entirely unexpected given the turmoil at the club. I suspect there is alot more going on behind the scenes that doesn't bode well for witton, I take no pleasure in seeing another club in meltdown, after all we've seen our share at Vics over the last few years. Ironic then as Vics appear to have turned the corner and now on firm financial footing witton are going the other way. I suspect there is serious problems at witton, no chairman,no manager,no players,no fans at this rate, no money and no ambition. Sadly the only way for witton is backwards unless a major benefactor rescues them,even a ground move wouldn't solve the problem as certain major shareholders will want there investment back!! witton,tennants at VS in next 5 yrs?, I wouldn't rule it out!! [/quote] That is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read in my life. Vics on firm financial footing and Witton going the other way with serious problems?! Dream on!
Vics fan wrote:
A very dark day in witton's history but not entirely unexpected given the turmoil at the club. I suspect there is alot more going on behind the scenes that doesn't bode well for witton, I take no pleasure in seeing another club in meltdown, after all we've seen our share at Vics over the last few years. Ironic then as Vics appear to have turned the corner and now on firm financial footing witton are going the other way. I suspect there is serious problems at witton, no chairman,no manager,no players,no fans at this rate, no money and no ambition. Sadly the only way for witton is backwards unless a major benefactor rescues them,even a ground move wouldn't solve the problem as certain major shareholders will want there investment back!! witton,tennants at VS in next 5 yrs?, I wouldn't rule it out!!
That is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read in my life. Vics on firm financial footing and Witton going the other way with serious problems?! Dream on!
Posted by: Vics fan on 12:25am Wed 7 May 08
Truth hurts I guess, wake up and smell the coffee mate, witton have serious problems. NVFC are on decent financial footing laid down by a consortium of businessmen who are a breath of fresh air. Yes we have been very very lucky to have them but sometimes drive and ambition makes one attractive for a takeover as well as sometimes causing financial problems of course, appears at witton though lack of ambition is the main problem, no attraction and no money. Make no mistake witton are going backwards and the finances next season could result in relegation!
Truth hurts I guess, wake up and smell the coffee mate, witton have serious problems. NVFC are on decent financial footing laid down by a consortium of businessmen who are a breath of fresh air. Yes we have been very very lucky to have them but sometimes drive and ambition makes one attractive for a takeover as well as sometimes causing financial problems of course, appears at witton though lack of ambition is the main problem, no attraction and no money. Make no mistake witton are going backwards and the finances next season could result in relegation!
Posted by: Kovet on 1:56pm Wed 7 May 08
Witton Forever !, you really must be in a trance, MC is the majority shareholder in the club, it is his to do as he so wishes, read second from last paragraph in his resignation speech," I will retain my shareholding", who would not in his position !!, you have a very serious problem in house which could see you fold sooner than you think !.
Witton Forever !, you really must be in a trance, MC is the majority shareholder in the club, it is his to do as he so wishes, read second from last paragraph in his resignation speech," I will retain my shareholding", who would not in his position !!, you have a very serious problem in house which could see you fold sooner than you think !.
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