After Wilko’s exit what next for Gosport?

 

Shaun Wilkinson’s recent exit from Gosport Borough has cast yet another spell on what has been a grey season at the Ariel Direct Stadium. He replaced Mick Caitlin as Alex Pike’s number 2 last month after 9 years in the post. But in his first interview since his departure he told Portsmouth News’ Kevin Ricketts that he couldn’t continue due to work commitments.

He said that “I am away a lot with my job and it is far too big a task to tackle part time”. Too big a task is a phase in which he isn’t using lightly, since rumours about the club’s of the pitch speculation, the club has been in freefall after a promising start to the season they have not won a game since October and are now staring relegation to the seventh tier in the face.

He went on to say that the slide in which Gosport are experiencing is something that they need to arrest and quickly explaining that “avoiding relegation is a huge job and if Borough don’t start winning games then it will be curtains”. The first of those games in which the Privett Park side need to win is a crucial relegation six pointer up against bottom of the table Margate tomorrow. Should there be a lose to the clash, then they will face an uphill struggle for survival in English Football’s sixth tier.

The problem is much harder especially if the side are relying of a number of “favours”. Wilkinson went on to tell The News that “I had to call in a number of favours to get some players. It is not easy though with a number of loan players due to go back to their parent club”. Such insecurities has seen a number of players come and go and an exodus of players over the last 6 months to local clubs, namely Moneyfields and Havant and Waterlooville.

The club has been plagued with financial troubles off the pitch, with a takeover bid from Jimmy Fallon failing in August and then a failed takeover at Christmas, avoiding relegation is crucial for Gosport as relegation with one of Havant and Waterlooville and Bognor to take one or two of the promotion slots available, there is not many other money spinning options in the seventh tier.

For Gosport they have a crucial game in their fight to stay in the Vanarama National League South at Margate, a 6 pointer with lots riding on it, can the Borough finally pick up that elusive win to help kick start their season or will it be Margate who wil get of he foot of the table.