Very sad to see it's already going so badly. Can only hope a miracle happens, but today is probably the day that the trap door opens half-way to the Isthmian Premier.
I still can't believe I heard the statement that the Club recruits players by watching YouTube Clips rather than scouting them like any sane football club does.
How Welling United has transformed into a Club where players capitulate every week and managers sing the same hymn sheet of excuses is absolutely disgusting.
If we fail to rebuild adequately in the summer for next season, the pressure on the ownership will surely become too much for them to stay at the club.
The club is absolutely miles behind everyone in the NLS and many clubs in the Ishtmian League, and if this season hasn't been the catalyst for major change at the club then we are in absolute peril of much worse.
I still can't believe I heard the statement that the Club recruits players by watching YouTube Clips rather than scouting them like any sane football club does.
How Welling United has transformed into a Club where players capitulate every week and managers sing the same hymn sheet of excuses is absolutely disgusting.
If we fail to rebuild adequately in the summer for next season, the pressure on the ownership will surely become too much for them to stay at the club.
The club is absolutely miles behind everyone in the NLS and many clubs in the Ishtmian League, and if this season hasn't been the catalyst for major change at the club then we are in absolute peril of much worse.
Well said
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I still can't believe I heard the statement that the Club recruits players by watching YouTube Clips rather than scouting them like any sane football club does.
How Welling United has transformed into a Club where players capitulate every week and managers sing the same hymn sheet of excuses is absolutely disgusting.
If we fail to rebuild adequately in the summer for next season, the pressure on the ownership will surely become too much for them to stay at the club.
The club is absolutely miles behind everyone in the NLS and many clubs in the Ishtmian League, and if this season hasn't been the catalyst for major change at the club then we are in absolute peril of much worse.
cant fault the earlier post.
Went to the meeting the other day and it was mentioned that Brian was going to be our director of football.
Do me a favour, we start with a midfielder as centre back and leave a centre back on the bench.
2-0 down after 15 mins against a side whos current form is worse than ours.
Howard mentioned that Rod wasnt the same person when he had news of a bereavement around Christmas time
Kevin steps in and gets us results.
Rod comes back and it is downhill from there on in.
Kevin then gets sacked.
FFS Howard, you are a lovely bloke, but way out of your depth when it comes to being a football chairman.
There is no room for niceness in this game, it is a results business.
Stating that you plan on having Brian as director of football, is basically another wage that doesnt need paying.
Get a manager and trainer in along with someone who has good marketing experience.
And do not submit to agents who tell you every one is after their player. I think it is safe to say, they aint.
How we can end up with 20+ players on contract is a absolute joke.
Thats me for the season, after missing around a dozen home & away over the past years, I am not prepared to watch this bollox any longer.
-- Edited by Wallop on Saturday 12th of April 2025 08:44:36 PM
-- Edited by Wallop on Saturday 12th of April 2025 08:46:10 PM
Well I think I have calmed down sufficiently now to comment on yesterday's "performance" which, after over 40 years watching Welling home and away, is easily one of the worst of all time.
Quite why we started with a central midfielder at centre half, a centre half at left back with two left backs on the bench is anyone's guess but to be two down inside five minutes was unacceptable. At least three of the goals we lost possession and you could drive a bus through the centre of the pitch. Welling fans are generally a forgiving bunch and if you put effort in then a lot will be forgiven. However if you start doing *keepy uppys" before taking a corner at 0-2 down that is not acceptable. If you lose the ball in midfield, don't chase after it and then feign injury when the other team score that is also not acceptable. Hampton were bottom on the form table before yesterday and yet we rolled over and died in front of them.... embarrassing doesn't even come close....
I went to the meeting on Thursday night and was genuinely encouraged by what I saw and heard. Square pegs in square holes and people who look like they can take this club forward. It's bad enough being a fan on days like yesterday but imagine if you were paying for that shower yesterday...?? Whilst supporters like myself want the club to be sustainable and progressive off the pitch the average bloke in the street wants to see his team put maximum effort in and win some football matches along the way. There's was some positivity for me last week but less than 48 hours it was completely taken away from everyone who was there yesterday.
I can't wait for 5pm on April 26th when this season will finally be over. With the exception of the goalkeeper, some of the loanees this season and maybe a couple of others, I hope I never see the rest of them in a WUFC shirt ever again...
Depends on what price club decides on if we do go down. No idea about season ticket prices but I have looked around current Istmian Prem admission prices, most are £12 adult and £6-£7 concession.
Edit
just found Chichester who charged £160 adult this season or £95 concession. Normal admission £10 and this should get the aproval of the Doctor half time admission £5
-- Edited by Squarevanmanthesecond on Sunday 13th of April 2025 01:05:17 PM
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Welling United were comprehensively beaten yesterday and deservedly so. We left too many gaps in midfield and defended way too deep. It didn't help however, that we played the Hampton & Richmond team and the officials too. Referee Lewis Sandoe and his linesmen were a disgrace. We had 3 possible goals disallowed. The first one rightly so, it didn't cross the line. I was in line with this and the 2nd clearly crossed the line and was beyond the inside of the post and in line with the inside of the net. The third well, terrible. Our player was onside when the phase of play started and finally the ball came off their goalkeeper for our player to tap in. That is a legitimate goal not offside. The lino can poke his flag where the sun don't shine and I told him so in no uncertain terms. Early in the first half the referee booked a Welling player for a terrible foul on the byline it could easily have been red. In the 2nd half he left our player sprawled on the floor for an equally bad tackle to allow their attack to continue. I think he sent their player off for time wasting once the game had been one to disguise the fact he was as home biased as he actually was. I don't think our fans help our cause when they constantly tell our players how bad they are and hurl abuse at them. One of our fans actually told one of our players he was dog ****. This may be true but it doesn't help anyone. Our job is to be the 12th man cheer and encourage them and help inspire especially more so when they are struggling. I remember when I was running in charity events coming down the home stretch having people cheer me encouraged me, helped me find that little bit extra and go that little bit faster. Far better than if they were saying you're 30 minutes behind everyone else and are terrible. Think about that next time you want to abuse our team. Yes, we can accept losing if the players put in maximum effort but aren't they more likely to do that if they are being supported and believed in by us? While I believe yesterday's performance was awful I still think Enfield away was the worst I've seen a Welling United team play.
As for playing Bramble at the back and leaving defenders on the bench, my theory is the defenders haven't done well lately, so maybe by having Bramble we could revert to a back three and create an overload in midfield. I don't know, that was my thought on it, you would need to ask Brian Statham. It didn't work but was maybe worth a try.
Remember too we did win the the Kent Senior Cup this season. Brian masterminded that victory and no matter what that stays on our record and that buzz lifted as all and afterall silverware is silverware and wasn't it a great feeling to be winners having suffered such a bad season.
From what was said at Thursday's meeting I agree maybe Howard Prosser is too nice to be a chairman but I admire his loyalty is recognising the good work previous managers have done and not sacking them ruthlessly when things start going wrong. He also respects them as human beings. I myself have suffered two close together bereavements and it does take a terrible toll on your mental health so to kick someone when they are down would be a terrible thing to do. In having Brian Statham as director of football perhaps Howard knows he wouldn't be so understanding and would make make managerial changes whenever necessary. Having Brian too would also create stability which the club desperately needs. I have said for years changing the the manager every five minutes and wiping out the squad every season doesn't work. Having a core of players that stay and love the club as much as us, play for the badge, care and have pride is the way forward I believe. Listening at the meeting it was said we have recruited players from you tube video's but we will now start to recruit using scouting. The board is clear it wants to learn from mistakes of the past and be better. It is obvious that at the moment the club struggles to compete financially at National League South level and it was said even at Isthmian Premier League level there are clubs with bigger budgets so probably we wouldn't automatically win promotion back next season. Remember it was said the 4G pitch was a game changer allowing for our own academy, developing players by allowing them to play for Erith & Belvedere. Having a core of committed players who believe in Welling United as much as us. Slowly but surely building and strengthening the squad. Having a stronger revenue stream generated by the new pitch will help immensely. Having a good reliable director of football who can oversee managerial changes if necessary without affecting the stability of the club I think is equally as vital. It was clear this wasn't an overnight fix, but, we seem to have some new and exciting partners coming on board to help. This might take 2 or 3 years but I honestly believe the club will come back stronger and thus be more able to compete at a higher level. I apologise to have gone on and this to be so wordy but I'm passionate about this and Welling United Football Club.
Verdict: I say don't stay away from the Maidstone United match. Yes we'll probably lose and even get tonked but more reason to support and cheer our team no matter what and prove we are truly United even in adversity.
Being on commentary means that I focus on trying to be impartial for the match despite it being a Welling Radio broadcast. 24hrs on and what can I say about yesterday, totally agree with the comment from Gavin, it was without doubt one of the worst performances I've ever seen.
With what was at stake we should have took the game straight to them from the first whistle, a team who had only won 1 match in god knows how long. Unfortunately they took the game to us and within 5 minutes it was game over.
After the 3rd went in on 30 minutes, the game for them took on a training match, pass n move straight through our midfield with such ease it was like men against boys. If I had been behind the goal with our Fan's I would've been screaming.
I really hate being to critical and usually I don't, but 15 minutes into the second half it was as if Welling just gave up, it was painful to watch and indeed commentate on. I just wanted to Ref to blow the whistle and get out of the place.
I must apologise to the Radio Wings listeners because at the end I was sure we was down and obviously said so, amazingly we STILL have a chance to get out of this mess. 3 wins is asking for a miracle, the player's need to face up on Good Friday and go for it. Play like they did yesterday and Maidstone will rip us to shreds
I think about £15 adult would be the right price with the extra pound for seating being finally scrapped as few actually pay it.
Chris £2 seating charge after we got relegated from National Premier. After representation from WUSA this was discontinued for non season ticket holders at start of this season. Only reason season ticket holders pay extra for stand is to guarantee their seat.
Do you mean £15 in advance or on day? Whichever I think would make us very expensive for the Istmian prem.
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Thanks for the clarification. Other clubs have greater alternative income streams like plastic pitches. Also the other clubs will likely raise their prices with inflation.
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I think about £15 adult would be the right price with the extra pound for seating being finally scrapped as few actually pay it.
Chris £2 seating charge after we got relegated from National Premier. After representation from WUSA this was discontinued for non season ticket holders at start of this season. Only reason season ticket holders pay extra for stand is to guarantee their seat.
Do you mean £15 in advance or on day? Whichever I think would make us very expensive for the Istmian prem.
Dartford charge £15, but to get this thread back on track, I can't help looking back at yesterday and wonder what the thinking was behind the selection. As a supporter I'm not educated, football wise, as a former manager said, but if playing with a flat back four, wouldn't Statham, Burchell, Di Trolio, Martin, with Quick as holding midfielder, have been a better option? Maybe Burchell and Martin only had 45 minutes in them, but surely it would have been better to start with them. Maybe we would have got an hour out of them and if we had kept it tight, perhaps Hampton would have got edgy.
