Tompkins Felt Another Voice Was Needed

Mark Tompkins resigned as manager of Ryman League Division One South club Chipstead due to "personal reasons".

0 Comments

Published 23rd August 2012

Mark Tompkins

He said he had been coming to the decision before last Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Burgess Hill Town on the opening day of the season.

However, Tompkins said that after "recharging his batteries" he would be on the look-out for a new manager's position.

And he did not rule out a return to the club like the one he made twenty-one months ago, three weeks after quitting.

"There are a few personal reasons," said Tompkins, who – apart from that brief exit – has managed the club for three seasons.

"I'm getting married soon and I'm moving house and it was a bit too much.

"I just need to recharge my batteries. I just felt it needed a new manager up at Chipstead now.

"When a manager normally leaves a club it's because they are in free fall, but that's not the case.

"They are respected as a Ryman club now. They've got a club that is well set up and I'm leaving it in better shape than when I started."

Tompkins insisted last Saturday's defeat was not the reason that he left.

"I'd been thinking about it before that. It wasn't just Saturday. Over the pre-season and at the end of last season I was just thinking it's time to go.

"I probably should have gone at the end of last season but I thought I would stick with it and see.

"A few players have been with me a few years and need a new manager because they've heard all my team talks and I need a fresh challenge as well.

"I'd like to think I'm a half decent manager and could do a job for someone else.

"Going now rather than after six games might give someone the chance to have a good crack at it."

He thanked the "great people" such as Peter Philpott, Geoff Corner and Derek Parsons.

He said those behind the scenes had been very supportive during his first season, when Chipstead avoided relegation, and that he was proud of pushing the High Road club into the top half two years running.

"To get a club like Chipstead into the top ten is like reaching the play-offs," he said.

Meanwhile, he hinted that he could return to the game swiftly.

"I don't want to be out of football," he said. "I definitely want to get into another job.

"Who knows? I could turn up at Chipstead again in a month's time. I wouldn't rule it out. But I've heard managers at the top of the game say they need to recharge the batteries and then come back."

Mick Read, his assistant, has been appointed temporarily.

Acting Chipstead chairman Geoff Corner said: "Tommo told me on Saturday after the game. I asked him to sleep on it for 24 hours and he came back on Sunday and still wanted to go.

"We've left on very good terms. He has done an excellent job at Chipstead. He just felt another voice was needed.

"It was a big surprise. You don't expect it on the first day of the season."

Read immediately offered to take the reins, with Corner saying the new boss had spoken to all the players who had agreed to stay.

"Tommo has done well, there is no doubt about it. But we move on and we will try to find the correct person."

[Source: Caterham Mirror]