Big freeze forces Hampton's hand (From Your Local Guardian)

Big freeze forces Hampton's hand

5:09pm Tuesday 19th January 2010 in

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Hampton & Richmond Borough have blamed the weather for the cull that saw Francis Quarm, Michael Lee-Charles and long-serving Marcello Fernandes all leave the club in the last week.

Quarm and Lee-Charles left for Sutton United and Carshalton Athletic respectively, while former Canadian international Fernandes has opted to take a break from the game.

The Beavers have not played a competitive fixture since a 4-0 defeat at Staines Town on New Year’s Day and are currently looking over their shoulders at the prospect of a Blue Square South relegation battle.

Chairman Steve McPherson had said in November that the playing budget would not be reduced in the new year if Hampton were out of the chase for promotion.

But the Station Road chief - in a statement on the club’s website - insists the u-turn had to be taken to ensure the club remained on a sound financial footing for the remainder of the campaign.

“Hampton regularly review both current and prospective revenue flows, “ he said.

“In light of the recent cancellation of matches through severe weather, it was felt prudent to take action now to adjust our cost base to reflect this situation.

“Like many clubs, we have been looking at ways of dealing with this shortfall in income, both by raising new money and by managing our ongoing costs.

“Our biggest area of expenditure is the wage bill and we have discussed with the players the need to reduce this to a lower level until the end of the season.

“The club has not taken this action lightly, but by doing so we have ensured the club remains on a sound financial footing.”

The exit of Fernandes, Lee-Charles and Quarm adds to the growing list of departures - that include Jamie Collins, Jon MacDonald, Graham Harper, Ashley Smith and Ryan Lake - since the summer.

Hampton’s next three games: Jan 23 Bromley (h), 30 Chelmsford City (a), Feb 6 Basingstoke Town (a).