Ex-boss sad but not surprised

Rye withdrew from the Sussex County Football League following a members’ vote during an extraordinary general meeting last Thursday night.

And Price said he could see it coming as far back as February 2013 when he ended his four-and-a-half year reign as the club’s manager.

He said: “I can’t say I’m surprised. I saw it coming last year when I left. Unfortunately the town and Rother District Council just have no interest in the football club whatsoever. You’re fighting against a brick wall really because you need the town and the council, especially when the pitch is owned by the council.”

Price, who is now assistant manager of FA Vase semi-finalists Eastbourne United AFC, joined Rye in 1996 and went on to enjoy considerable success on the field and in the dugout.

“It’s always been the same,” he continued. “It’s a fantastic club to play for and to manage. Les (Britton) backed me as a player and Clive (Taylor) backed me as a manager 100 per cent. They couldn’t do enough for you.

“I’ve got some great memories and it’s just a shame, but it was always going to come to this because of the way the club is.

“Clive put a considerable amount of his own money into that football club. He’s got a business and he travels all over the country. Pat (Taylor) as well she’s at the hospice and they needed help, but unfortunately they’ve not got that.

“I’ve seen how a committee is run (at Eastbourne) and it’s phenomenal compared to Rye. It’s completely different. If it wasn’t for the committee we wouldn’t have a club.

“I’m gutted for Pat and Clive because I know how much the club meant to them, especially after the fire (which destroyed the club’s old Sidney Allnutt Pavilion in August 2010).”

See tomorrow’s Rye Observer for the full article.