Football: Chairman leads Old Boys exodus

LEEK CSOB chairman Chris McMullen has insisted "we will keep going" as the club prepares for further departures.

Last month long-serving secretary Stan Lockett announced he was stepping down at the end of the season and now McMullen, pictured below, is following suit.

Club treasurer Tracy McMullen and loyal servant Andy Walters are also calling it a day.

Walters has spent 30 years with Old Boys as player, manager, coach and committee man.

Assistant manager Steve Callear quit in December and manager Brett Barlow will consider his position at the end of the season.

To add to Old Boys' woes, the recent deduction of seven points for fielding an ineligible player has left them at the bottom of the table.

McMullen has been with Old Boys for 17 years, successfully managing the team before taking over as chairman seven years ago.

He said: "I took the role on from Ken Hill so that the club would have somebody to deal with the council and Staffs FA, but my real interest has been in coaching.

"I actually told Stan Lockett of my intention to stand down last year, before he went public with his decision.

"Running a club like CSOB is hard work. There are too few people for too many jobs.

"Our first-team costs are more than £10,000 and money like that takes some finding.

"We don't attract gates as such, yet just up the road at the Dyers Arms they take five coaches to Stoke City games."

Old Boys have at least given themselves time to fill the vacancies, and McMullen added: "We'll speak to people in the next few weeks who, hopefully, can take it forward. It would be sad if the club goes just because we go."

Old Boys, who have conceded 10 goals in their last two games, are at home to Atherton Collieries tomorrow.

ECCLESHALL are buzzing, having reached the top half of the table for the first time this season.

A 4-1 home win against Ashton Town gave Eccleshall eight points of the 10 manager Keiron Hammatt had targeted for January.

Skipper Danny Hughes became the first Eccleshall player to score a hat-trick since Hughes himself in March of last year, while Tom Wakefield reached double figures.

Hammatt believes Wakefield can double his tally and feels Josh Lane may not be too far behind.

Hammatt said: "The players are analysing their performances more closely and are getting rid of bad habits. That is why I think we are doing better."

Eccleshall are without a fixture tomorrow, but have arranged a friendly with Newcastle Town next Tuesday.