Fans in battle to save Terras
By Ian McDonald

Thursday 11th January 2007

DEFIANT Weymouth Football Club supporters today urged fans to help keep the club alive.

Followers and sponsors issued a rallying call to the Terras faithful begging them not to turn their back on the team in its hour of need.

The plea came after chairman Martyn Harrison axed manager Garry Hill and coach Kevin Hales and placed the first team squad on the transfer list in a desperate cost-cutting exercise.

Nigel Beckett, chairman of the Weymouth FC Supporters Club, said it was more important than ever for supporters to get behind the side.

He said: "What we need is for all the fans to rally round and support the club.

"As supporters we enjoy the good times, but we must also ride out the bad times. It's up to every single supporter to help save this football club."

"I'm pleased Mr Harrison put his hand up," he said. "He could have easily walked away or put us into administration.

"He cannot have had an easy couple of days, but he's sticking by us.

"People can moan but we must face facts, things have gone wrong. The fans must now do their bit."

Mr Beckett said the club's faithful should show their allegiance by turning up in droves for matches and social events.

He added: "As a supporters club we put lots of functions on, but often don't get the response. We held an event in December and 26 people turned up.

"People say they're afraid of losing this club, but they don't help us out. Now is the time to join and put that right.

"All the money we collect from people goes straight to the football club. People must come through the turnstiles."

Mr Beckett criticised fans who are preparing to walk away from the club if the team's performances suffer following Mr Harrison's shock move.

"That's the last kind of attitude we need," he said. "This problem is not going away.

"Now is not the time to abandon us. Who knows, the younger players that come in may prove all the hungrier for it."

Dave Higson, managing director of main sponsors Park Engineering, echoed Mr Beckett's sentiments.

He said: "When Mr Harrison told me what had gone on, I was gobsmacked. I'm still shocked now, but the important thing is to keep the club afloat.

"I'm glad the chairman didn't walk away and had the decency to stand up and admit he got a few things wrong.

"What we don't want now is to get into a downward spiral and end up where we were before, with only 600 people turning up."

Mr Higson said it was essential the Terras remained in the Nationwide Conference - but admitted it would be tough.

"Fans will have their own opinions and some may stay away," he said.

"But hopefully there are more hardcore supporters around now who will come and support us.

"It's a difficult time and I don't know what the future holds. But right now it's vital we all pull together."