“Fed up” Dave Cooper is contemplating stepping down as manager of Woofferton just two months after taking charge of the County Football League division one new boys.
The stalwart goalkeeper has questioned the commitment of some of the players and has warned there needs to be a big shake-up in the coming weeks.
Plans for the new season have been hit by the departure of several key players to rival clubs, and the management team of Cooper, Tim Moriarty and Alan Hogg are struggling to bring in replacements.
“There don’t seem to be the players out there are the moment,” said Cooper.
“It’s disappointing to lose the players we have. I can understand why some have left, but there’s been a lack of loyalty from some of the others.
“The commitment’s not there at the moment, and the situation has got to a stage that I’m fed up and I’m seriously looking at my own future.”
He added: “When I took this job on, I was really looking forward to the new challenge but the job’s wearing me down at the moment.
“I’m spending a lot of time on the phone, but it’s soul destroying trying to get players to come here.
“Some of the lads already here also can’t be bothered to come training.
“They say they are coming, but then just don’t turn up which is very disheartening. At this rate,I think the club will be struggling to field a first team and reserve team this season.”
The problems have come at the worst possible time, with Woofferton preparing for life in the County League next month after pulling out of the Herefordshire League premier division last term.
“I want to be going into the league looking to compete, but that won’t happen unless there is a drastic change of attitude,” said Cooper.
“It’s going to be a D-day for me soon, I want to see what sort of commitment is out there.
“If the players can’t be bothered, then I won’t be either and I’ve already had offers to go and play for other clubs.”
Last season’s top scorer Nathan Hodge could be on the move to Ludlow, while the club have lost the likes of ever present central defender Gareth Jones to Leominster, Danny Gower and Jamie Weir to Ludlow reserves while Gareth Angel will miss the first half of the season due to work.
Woofferton opened their pre-season programme against Presteigne in defence of the Ludlow Hospital Cup last night (Thursday) before taking on their reserves in a workout tomorrow.
Next Tuesday, they entertain Presteigne again, this time in a friendly, before hosting Broseley Juniors the following Saturday.
Their final friendly is scheduled to be at home to Meole Brace on Saturday, August 8 before the County League division one campaign gets under way the following week.
by John Bridgwater