Chairman takes charge after Hams step down

By David Watters

Walton Casuals

Mark Hams has been told he still has a ‘big future’ at Walton Casuals by chairman Tony Gale after stepping down as manager at the Ryman South club.

Hams and his assistant Neil Hams, pictured, left their respective roles at the Waterside Stadium by ‘mutual consent’ on Friday after meeting with club officials. After a nine game losing start to the season had left the Stags propping up the table, Gale and Anthony Gale took temporary charge on Saturday and guided the Stags to a 1-0 win at Redhill.

Hams, who left his post as assistant manager at Kingstonian to take the helm in June 2013, guided the Stags to a club record league finish of ninth last term and is being backed by Gale to return.

In a statement released on the club’s website on Saturday, the chairman said: "Mark Hams has got a big future to play at Walton Casuals Football Club. He has left us temporarily, but with the coaching skills, qualifications and man management he has, I suspect he will be back with us in an alternative role.

"Mark had to leave us on the Friday. After a meeting with club officials, we decided a change in the manager's role was required - because despite Mark potentially being one of the best managers we've had, and having a successful season last year, we feel we had to change something.

"We have had a turnaround of players, which is yet to work, so we decided to change around the luck. I've been in this situation many times before, with both relegation sides and promotion sides. When you are a promotion side and everything is going well, adjustments aren't necessary. However, when you are a side facing relegation, with no points on the board as we were, then something has to change."

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