Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 25, 2005 9:02:56 GMT
Plea for rethink as Budge quits - from courier online
CRISIS-hit Wick Academy have begged boss Alistair Budge to rethink his position after he sensationally quit as manager.
The former goalkeeper, who once vowed never to walk out on the club, resigned after the struggling Scorries crashed to the bottom of the Highland League at the weekend - exactly two years after he took over the hot-seat.
His decision completed a miserable week for Academy, who lost 2-1 to Brora Rangers in the Far North derby at the Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
Only 24 hours earlier it had emerged that the club's ground could be sold by the Highland Council for development.
However, it is understood that the Academy players and committee held talks at the club last night to try to convince Budge to stay.
Speaking to the Courier earlier this week, Budge said: "I have made up my mind - enough is enough. There is only so much I can put up with.
"To be honest I made up my mind 20 minutes before the end of the game on Saturday - it was a derby game but the boys just weren't up for it, and I have got to take the blame because at the end of the day I put the team out on the pitch."
He added: "The supporters are paying good money to watch entertaining football and not stand around in the freezing cold in the Far North of Scotland."
Budge, a 42-year-old selfemployed joiner from Thurso, was named as manager of Wick Academy in January 2003. He replaced Pat Miller, who was promoted to the new post of general manager and youth co-ordinator at the club.
Budge played in goal for Academy when they first joined the Highland League in 1994 and he has also coached the under-18 side. He built up an impressive CV in local football, winning the Highland Amateur Cup three times with Pentland United and the North Reserve League, both as a player with Halkirk United and as manager of Thurso.
However, despite all his efforts, Budge has struggled to turn around the club's fortunes with some fans continuing to boycott the team over the way the club is being run off the park, whilst the players are currently suffering their worst-ever start to a Highland League season.
19/01/2005
CRISIS-hit Wick Academy have begged boss Alistair Budge to rethink his position after he sensationally quit as manager.
The former goalkeeper, who once vowed never to walk out on the club, resigned after the struggling Scorries crashed to the bottom of the Highland League at the weekend - exactly two years after he took over the hot-seat.
His decision completed a miserable week for Academy, who lost 2-1 to Brora Rangers in the Far North derby at the Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
Only 24 hours earlier it had emerged that the club's ground could be sold by the Highland Council for development.
However, it is understood that the Academy players and committee held talks at the club last night to try to convince Budge to stay.
Speaking to the Courier earlier this week, Budge said: "I have made up my mind - enough is enough. There is only so much I can put up with.
"To be honest I made up my mind 20 minutes before the end of the game on Saturday - it was a derby game but the boys just weren't up for it, and I have got to take the blame because at the end of the day I put the team out on the pitch."
He added: "The supporters are paying good money to watch entertaining football and not stand around in the freezing cold in the Far North of Scotland."
Budge, a 42-year-old selfemployed joiner from Thurso, was named as manager of Wick Academy in January 2003. He replaced Pat Miller, who was promoted to the new post of general manager and youth co-ordinator at the club.
Budge played in goal for Academy when they first joined the Highland League in 1994 and he has also coached the under-18 side. He built up an impressive CV in local football, winning the Highland Amateur Cup three times with Pentland United and the North Reserve League, both as a player with Halkirk United and as manager of Thurso.
However, despite all his efforts, Budge has struggled to turn around the club's fortunes with some fans continuing to boycott the team over the way the club is being run off the park, whilst the players are currently suffering their worst-ever start to a Highland League season.
19/01/2005