'They didn't even tell us to our faces'

Howe is still angry and upset at the way he has been dismissed by the club he served with distinction for 13 years.

And the strength of feeling against the board's decision that he should go has been fully revealed to Howe since Saturday's shock news and The Monday Gazette story clarifying his position - that he did not tender his resignation as the board said but was told to leave.

"The response I have had from people has been fantastic," he said. "There have been many calls, texts and messages. I would like to thank all those who have supported me.

"The schools have been tremendous and have asked me if I will carry on. Winklebury even asked me to go in for an afternoon and do a presentation. I am just very sorry I have had to let a lot of kids down he was supposed to be doing football in the community coaching this week because of what's happened."

Howe said he is still finding events hard to come to terms with.

He explained: "I understand the board's concerns about results but they never came to me to discuss things or what they were planning to do.

"If they had pulled me to one side or given me a time-frame to sort things, I would have accepted that. But after all the time I have spent at the club and with them, I wasn't even given that. I expected to be treated with more respect and at least have a phone call from the board. There hasn't been one call."

On Monday, The Gazette reported how 53-year-old Howe believed that another manager had been lined up for his job. Despite board denials to the contrary, the swift appointment of Francis Vines has reinforced his conviction that he was right.

Howe is disappointed he will not now have the chance to keep the club in the Nationwide South league, as he was confident of doing, despite the run of six defeats in seven games.

He said: "Some players haven't been performing at the levels we know they are capable of, and perhaps I was over-loyal to some - but that's me. I had a strong allegiance to them - there is no way I lost the dressing room and they will tell you that."

The decision to axe Howe was partly based on financial pressures at the club and the financial implications that relegation would have.

"The question that has to be asked is where the financial pressure is - because my spending is on budget and it is the only side of the club that is," said Howe.

"The bar has lost over £25,000 up until the end of January, the commercial sponsorship is £30,000 down, but my side of things was in profit with the cuts and money from Sergio Torres' transfer to Wycombe."

Vice-chairman Steve Murfitt acknowledged finances were a factor in the board's decision, because the team's bad home displays led to falling gate receipts and low clubhouse revenue. However, he did not confirm the figures quoted by Howe because BTL is a public company and he needed to speak to shareholders about releasing figures.

Murfitt said Vines would be working on Howe's agreed budget, which meant players would have to leave before any newcomers arrive. The two likely departures this week are Argentinians Pablo Pedrotti and Miguel Angel-Basualdo.

HEARTBROKEN Pete Peters says he is devastated at the way he and Ernie Howe have been cast aside by Basingstoke Town after so many years' loyal service.

Peters, for 10 years Howe's assistant and right-hand man, says he has been "feeling numb" ever since Saturday's shock Camrose departure.

He told The Gazette: "The board can dress it up in any way they want, but it is a sacking, and for them to post a statement saying we resigned and they reluctantly accept it is just a bare-faced lie.

"If we wanted to quit, we would have packed our bags at 5pm on Saturday and walked out - not spent over an hour with the players to have a go at them, trying to get them to open up and make things better.

"We have a bit more about us than to quit - but the board told us to go.

"It has left a nasty taste in the mouth. They claim they are our friends - but friends don't treat each other this way. They didn't even tell us to our faces.

"After all this time at the club, Ernie's 13 years, and my 12, they didn't even have the courtesy to come and do that, apart from Dave, who had already resigned."

Peters continued: "We had no warning at all. That's what rankles most. After we had finished with the players on Saturday, Dave came to call Ernie to one side, while I spoke to Radio Solent about the game.

"When I'd finished, I got called into the kit room by Dave and was told Ernie has resigned, so of course I was going to do the same.

"But when I found out what the actual scenario was, it was even worse. Steve Murfitt had spent an hour with us on Friday afternoon, and gave us no indication at all what the board had decided at the board meeting with Rafi that morning."

The 73-year-old went on: "They could have at least come to us at Christmas and said 'we are giving you until February to get things sorted, and if not, we then think it's time for a change'.

"We couldn't have argued with that - but the way they have handled it has, I feel, been very under-hand and disappointing.

"They are relative newcomers and haven't put in all the work and effort we had to when we were here during some very tough times to keep the club afloat.

"We've put in 70-hour weeks, not including games, paid players from our own bank accounts, opened our homes to players, sacrificed time with our families, only to be treated like this."

He added: "I cannot argue with the football side. Results have been poor. But I still maintain we could have turned things around."

Peters is now taking legal advice about gaining some compensation following his departure.

First published: Thursday, March 30, 2006