Roger looks to stabilise

DEFIANT Ilford chairman Roger Chilvers has rejected claims from former boss Chris Wood that the club lacks ambition and insists there is a long-term plan in place to achieve success, writes Iain Liddle.

Wood walked out after Saturday's loss to VCD Athletic, claiming the Ryman Division One North club's 'uncompetitive' wage budget was making it impossible for him to fulfill his lofty ambitions for the club.

However Chilvers, who immediately promoted assistants Colin Walton and Michael Thompson to joint-managers, said the board is initially keen to stabilise during difficult financial times and wants organic growth, rather than a short-term boom or bust strategy.

"We'd dispute that as it was the budget he asked for at the start of the season," said Chilvers, of Wood's claims.

"We believe it's a mid-table budget and while it's not the best in the league, it's also not the worst."

He added: "We'd like to be in the Conference, but it comes down to a lack of finance.

"Since our reformation we've taken Ilford from a pub team to the Ryman leagues. We've got security off the pitch with a 30-year lease on the ground and a 30-year lease on the clubhouse and we're constantly chasing sponsorships.

"At the moment we see ourselves as mid-table, but it's a question of walking before you can run.

"You need stability to attract sponsors and that is what we are trying to achieve."

In addition to management, Wood undertook a series of duties at the club including washing the kits, cutting the grass and marking out the pitch.

Chilvers agrees with Wood that the former boss probably did not receive the credit he deserved for his efforts, but also argues that nobody forced him to take on the roles.

"It's almost impossible to stop him once he gets going," said the chairman.

"I'll admit there were not hundreds of people waiting to do the job. As I said, you can't stop Chris and we didn't try.

"If he wanted to do it, then we let him get on with it.