Evans: Why I have walked away

Graham Evans (right) has told mywelshpool that his job at Technogroup Welshpool was over after his relationship broke down with chairman Michael Dawkins.

Evans, who quit the club last night on the same day as the Huws Gray Alliance deducted 15 points for playing ineligible players, said it became apparent this week that he was no longer in 100% control of team matters leaving him with no choice.

“I have the utmost respect for the players, supporters, committee members, Benji my assistant and the town but it was clear that things had changed this week,” said the 53 year-old former Guilsfield boss. “We desperately needed a goal scorer and Aden Shannon (from Cefn Druids) became available and wanted to come to us but my request to the chairman to sign him was denied. I don’t know why, it must be something personal to him, but Aden would have answered our problems in front of goal. I wanted him; the club needed him but the chairman said no. He would not have been on any more money than anyone else so it was not a financial decision. It was time for me to leave.

“When I accepted the job I made it clear that I must have total responsibility for matters on the pitch. I was supported fully by the previous chairman and the committee but unfortunately that is not the case anymore. I am a little too old to take instruction. There were a few things said last Saturday which I was not happy about as well and I could have walked then but it didn’t improve as the week went on so I have resigned.”

Evans added that he was “chuffed” with what he had achieved at Welshpool by ensuring they fulfilled their Alliance fixtures to date, and he felt the club was competing on the pitch and showing strong signs of recovery. All this after starting his reign without a single player after last season’s squad deserted en masse.

He also said that he had emailed concerns over the well-documented problems with the Maes-y-dre playing surface but his request for the grass to be cut was dismissed.

Dawkins declined an opportunity to comment on the claims but the club issued a statement, thanking Evans for his efforts.

Club secretary Liam Pritchard said: “I'd like to put on record the club's thanks to Graham for his tireless hard work. We could not have asked more of him in terms of effort. It's no exaggeration to say that if he hadn't come along when he did we almost certainly would not have a club anymore. He rebuilt the team entirely from scratch under extremely difficult conditions. It might not look like it on paper, but the club has come a very long way under Graham from having to cancel pre season friendlies and even borrowing players from the opposition so we could actually get friendlies played to giving Cymru Alliance teams a good game week on week.”

“For all his efforts he has our deepest thanks and we wish him well for the future.”

In the meantime, assistant manager Benji Evans will take charge for this weekend’s match with Caersws.