Sacked boss challenges Fareham owners to step up

Steve Stone. Picture: Paul Jacobs (151606-9)

Departing manager Steve Stone reckons progress will be impossible at Fareham Town until the owners take a greater interest.

Stone was sacked after the Reds suffered a 4-2 Wessex League premier division defeat against Horndean at Cams Alders on Saturday.

The result left Fareham stranded at the foot of the table and frustrations boiled over after the final whistle.

Assistant boss Karl Watson made his feelings known – upsetting vice-chairman Dave Munday.

Conor Duffin struck twice for Horndean against Fareham. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (170051-4)

Stone was then given an ultimatum which led to his sacking.

‘Karl is a passionate guy and what he said was not wrong,’ said Stone.

‘Maybe they didn’t like the way he said it and felt it was unacceptable.

‘I was told to sack him or resign but I wasn’t prepared to do either.

‘You don’t sack someone who has put as much work in as my assistant as Karl. He even gave up a day’s work because we were short of keeper cover.

‘Then the vice-chairman came back and told me we had both been sacked.

‘It is a shame because for the last two years we have managed to keep the club up under the most difficult of circumstances. I am convinced we would have kept them up again this season. Four new players have just come in and we still have games in hand on our rivals.