

A message from the Chairman.
These are notes from Dulwich Hamlet Chairman Ben Clasper which we due to be published in our matchday programme against Folkestone Invicta before the game was postponed.
Last May we set the goals for the men’s team following a season in which we only looked like possible promotion candidates for the middle third of the campaign. This time the goal was promotion and it was a goal enthusiastically endorsed by the manager who to his credit was already talking about back to back promotions.
A couple of months ago when we had slipped out of the play-off spots I wrote about the simplicity of the challenge ahead to keep that goal in sight. Five games against teams in the top 8 followed by three against teams in the relegation zone. Coming out of those first five with the same or smaller gap would be enough for seven or nine points in the next three to land us back in contention. The outcome? One win and two draws in the first five, probably a win short of our aim, but the three defeats after Boxing Day left our goal in tatters.
Targets play a part in every area of the club from how quickly we get people into the ground to how many schools and charities we can engage with in a season and when we miss them we make changes to fix that. Football results are no different. We set a target and we missed it and for the second consecutive season we have done the hard work to get into touching distance of the goal only to plummet, not fall short, plummet. We find ourselves today in the same position we did at the end of the last season – 9 or 10 places short. The difference this season is that fall has happened when there are still plenty of games to go but our current form would see us in the battle below not bouncing back into the one above.
Despite all the goodwill in the world towards Hak and his management team from the club, the staff and the fans who all wanted to see them succeed there was no credible alternative to the decision the board took this week.
So, as traumatic as last Saturday was, the nature of that result may have determined the timing of the decision but it wasn’t the only factor in determining the outcome. I can accept most individual results but we all have to be clear that the second half of that game was completely unacceptable and the response of everyone present was wholly justified. It would have been absurd to try to argue it was a ‘one off’ as not only was it our second capitulation in a week from a winning position at half time against a team forced to play the entire second half with ten men but it was our third game in four conceding four goals at home. The fortress has fallen and seemingly any winning position can still be lost.
No doubt the discussion about injuries will continue and we have to acknowledge the challenge that will bring for whoever manages the team to the end of the season but we cannot hide behind excuses. We are all there to manage adversity, that’s part of our job. I believe in this squad, not just a first XI, the whole squad. They showed they could all do what was needed when we were climbing the table despite the team changing week in week out, they showed they could all do what was needed away at Dartford and Lewes and in the first halves against Whitehawk, Cray and Bognor.
They have what it takes, they have the ability, they have the talent, our job is to work out why we haven’t been able to close out the games we have been in control of. The players know they need to be part of the solution, removing the management does not absolve them of responsibility but we want to create the positive environment that will give us the best chance of success and the best chance of repaying you, the fans who have been supportive, tolerant and reasonable to the end.
Looking to the future both the short-term and the long-term plan are in motion. We should be humbled by the sheer volume and calibre of people expressing an interest but with many managers doing excellent jobs at their current clubs some of the right candidates you should consider are not available and you have to respect that. We have options who could start immediately that would see us through to the end of the season but it is important that the next manager is a fit for the broader strategy for the club and how football is run and so while there are some incredible managers available now, to make availability the only criteria would be a mistake.
We have spoken with the players and their priority is being able to continue doing their jobs, that means continuing with training, match preparation and matches. We spoke about the need to fill the void quickly versus the need to make the best decision for them and the club so the prospect of one or more of the senior players stepping in is also there to afford us the time to get this right.
Thank you for your support, please continue to show that for the players and thank you for expressing your opinions so respectfully even when emotions were at their highest.
Next at Champion Hill:
The Hamlet men return to Champion Hill on Saturday 25th January when we host Chichester City, get your tickets here.