Despite the end of the gravy train that was signalled by the demise of the
Carthium Group in early November Hornchurch Football Club Ltd's ownership has
never changed and the owners have appointed three new directors to the board of
the club at least two of whom have strong links with Karl Williams. The move
resulted in a parting of the ways with club Chairman Gary Calder and Secretary
Mick Ewen who had stood by the club after the money dried up and done their best
to see the club continue despite the loss of most of the first team.
There is a public dispute now running on the Hornchurch
message board regarding whether they walked or were fired.
Karl Williams stated in the announcement of the departure (6:45pm 10/1/05):
Neither Gary Calder nor Mick Ewan (sic) have been sacked.
This morning the shareholders appointed three new Directors to the Board of HFC,
Mr Brian Eagling, Miss Jennifer Cliff and Mr Jon Smith. As a result of those
appointments, Mr Calder is considering his position as Chairman of HFC (he has
been asked to continue) and in that respect we have a meeting with him in the
morning.
Mick Ewan was an appointment made by Gary Calder and as far as we
understand was never a member of staff. Apparently Mick Ewan walked out after
hearing the news of the three new Directors and unless we hear otherwise we
shall consider that he has resigned.
Gary Hill (sic) continues as Club Manager.
Brian Eagling was named in the Observer's look in to the finances at Bridge
Avenue in September 2004 as part of the Bryco/ColdSeal/Carthium Group's
management. Jennifer Cliff is apparently Karl Williams' girlfriend.
The announcement of the outcome of the meeting mentioned above was made at
just after 3pm on the 11/01/05):
This morning we met with Gary Calder to review the
situation at the club. Following full and frank discussions regarding recent
appointments to the board of HFC, Gary Calder has left the club by mutual
consent. A new Chairman will be appointed in due course.
The Shareholders and Directors of HFC wish to thank Gary for his efforts and
hard work throughout the past 15 months, especially the past 8 weeks, and wish
him well for the future.
There is much work to do to resolve the current difficulties at the club and in
that respect we ask please that staff, fans and officals pull together to assist
in that goal.
Thank You
Karl Williams
The use of "mutual consent" as a euphemism for "we fired
them" is a common one in football! Gary Calder seems to have maintained a
dignified silence on the events around his departure but Mike Ewen popped up on
the forum with his view at:8:46pm on 11/01/05:
It is time now for me to give you the supporters the
facts regarding my leaving the club yesterday. Contrary to what has been said
already on this forum, I can categorically deny that I have resigned as
secretary of Hornchurch F.C.
In truth I was relieved of my duties (sacked is another expression) at 10.15am
yesterday morning. I arrived at the club as is my norm and was informed by Gary
Calder that he had been relieved of his duties and that as a new General
Manager?secretary was being put in place, I was going also.
Jenny arrived a few moments later and she said to me, "you are not staff
are you, do we owe you any money?" I took that as another invitation to
leave the premises.
I then left with Gary, passing Brian Eagling on the way.
I have never walked away from anything and in fact could have done so after the
problems towards the end of last year. I along with Gary stayed and helped
Hornchurch F.C. as best we could, a job made easier by the efforts of Garry
Hill, Kevin Hales and Jimmy Stannard.
So there you have it. I appreciate that no person is bigger than the club, but I
couldn't sit by and read 'that I had walked out'.
Many thanks to all of you supporters for the kind words and best wishes you have
given me on this forum and also for the help and kindness you have shown to me
since I joined this football club. It is nice to know that the work done by both
Gary and myself was appreciated by most of you.
To this end, I wish everybody and Hornchurch fC the very best in the future and
once again, thanks very much.
Mick Ewen.
A little further down the thread Uncle Urchin (Karl
Williams) pops in with the following:
Oh dear, that post is untrue, you were not fired and
you were not asked to leave the premises. Jennie did say that to you when you
complained about 'what about the money for my time' We thought you worked unpaid
Mick, how silly of us. Cash is of course king...
Mick Ewens worked at Hx for 6 months, if I had put my foot down in the first
place he wouldn't have been there 2 minutes.
There are many issues that will arise from that post Mick and I am glad you made
it, you have now opened up the way for the real truth and it will now in due
course be told.
Including the mail sent by recorded delivery to myself and opened and hidden in
your desk. Now THAT is a good story.
Marvellous stuff!
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