Fan reacts to Worthing directors' relegation reaction

"We did not know until Saturday that we were going down," said vice-chairman Ray Smith. "We do have plans to make."

Financial director Martin Cook added: "Obviously, we have no plans and it doesn't need a decision yet. We haven't actually taken in, yet, that we've been relegated."

Heene resident and Herald reader Peter Clynes writes to the paper in reaction:

"Dear Sir,

So Worthing Directors have not planned for relegation, because they did not expect it (Herald, April 19). I can tell them that many of the terrace regulars expected it from the start of the season. I can also offer them some real advice. They should plan for Sussex County League for, unless there is a radical re-think, then this team will struggle in Division 1 South, which lacks quality but is fiercely competitive and very physical.

The reason for relegation is not due to bad players, though there were several clearly below standard at the start. These should have been cleared out during the pre-season friendlies but were retained for far too long.

The main problem has been the chaotic team selection with players often looking confused and demoralised. This was also the case at the tail end of last season and cost the club a possible promotion.

It is true that there is a fine crop of young players but they are unlikely to develop in the current playing system in which there seems to be no shape and no method. I fear that at least one, and maybe several more, will move on. All successful clubs have a settled defence, in which the players get to know one another. Worthing appear to have a different central pairing for every match. It is no surprise that they concede soft goals.

It is no coincidence that the best set of results, during which they lost only once in nine matches, came when the side had a minimum of team changes, but the management could not resist the chance to tinker and the momentum was lost. If Sam Francis plays next season, he must be used as a centre-forward where he frightens defenders, not as a right-winger where he is often isolated and ineffective.

At Woodside Road, I usually stand by the home bench for part of the match and by the away bench for the other part, and the contrast is startling. Our bench spend most of the match abusing the officials, whereas the opposition, at least the better teams, offer constructive advice and encouragement to their players.

At the Harrow Borough match, I moved to the stand side of the ground, where I was appalled to hear a club director aim a stream of invective at the referee and an opposition player. That just about sums up Worthing at present.

The club has a good and loyal support. Attendances are higher than many of the teams in the Ryman and in the Conference South, and many of us feel let down this season. It remains to be seen how many will be back next season.

Peter Clynes,

Mill Road,

Worthing.