Suter remains philosophical after YM relegation

2 May 2008

HORSHAM YMCA's relegation from the Ryman league was confirmed on Saturday with a heavy 5-0 defeat to Cray Wanderers. Before the game manager John Suter called their chances of survival 'one in a million' but even a victory for his depleted team would not have saved them as Chatham beat Kingstonian 3-1. YM's miserable season has seen them score just 33 goals in 38 games and ends two years in Division 1 South after they won the Sussex County League for the second time in a row in 2004/2005. After finishing ninth in a highly successful first season in the division, it has been a case of second season blues for YM, leaving their dejected boss to point out the reasons for this year's disappointment. Suter explained: "The main problems were that last year we had better players, we were unknown in the league and had somebody who could score goals. "We finished ninth in what was a brilliant season where we finished above some big clubs." Performances on the pitch last season attracted the attentions of teams with greater financial muscle who swooped in the close season. Scott Kirkwood - the club's top scorer with 16 goals from midfield - was snapped up by Hastings, keeper Dean Ruddy went to Dover and Dan Sackman went to study in Florida, while Ellis Hooper, a main stay of the last year's defence, tore his cruciate ligament in a pre-season friendly. Add to that the departure of assistant manager Tommy Sampson, who helped YM win the County League and finish mid table in his two years at the club, and the transfer of Joe Keehan - still the club's top scorer on seven goals - to Worthing in December, and a picture of the season comes together. "At the end of the season the table doesn't lie," a philosophical Suter remarked. "We have had a dreadful season, it's been hard work, but every year someone has to finish in the relegation places, but it's disappointing because no one wants to go down." Suter, facing relegation for the,first time in 53 years as a player or manager, said the club had brought him the full range of emotions in his 19 years as manager, but failed to be drawn on the speculation he will step down at the end of the season. "I am not prepared to talk about my own position, I am concentrating on making sure we don't finish bottom which is our aim now," he said. Suter said the number of relegation places would not be officially confirmed until the end of the season, and there was the possibility that only one club would drop, but with Crowborough winning the Sussex County Division 1 and Merstham winning the Combined Counties League, he admits he is not holding his breath. Having seen the club lose most of their star players without replacing them in the last two seasons, concern will be raised over the club's financial future. Chairman Mick Browning sa id: "From a chairman's point of view I am naturally very disappointed, this season's results as everyone else at the club is. "The focus for the rest of the season has to be to get as mpny points as possible from our remaining games." Mr Browning said he could not properly asses the financial implications of relegation until the end of the season, but said fewer away fains next season would have ari impact. He pointed to last season's situation where Corinthian Casuals stayed up despite finishing in the bottom two as a glimmer of hope for his team.