Warren explains resignation

Jethro Warren has explained his decision to step down as manager of Westfield Football Club.
Jethro Warren (right) has resigned as manager of Westfield Football Club. Picture courtesy Jon SmalldonJethro Warren (right) has resigned as manager of Westfield Football Club. Picture courtesy Jon Smalldon
Jethro Warren (right) has resigned as manager of Westfield Football Club. Picture courtesy Jon Smalldon

Jack Stapley, who has been Warren’s assistant this season, has taken over the reins after Warren ended his 16-month tenure on Tuesday night.

Warren said: “There’s a few factors. Work is one of the main ones - we’ve got so much on it’s ridiculous and every Saturday I’m not working, I’m getting further behind.

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“If I could find a balance between football, work and family I’d probably still be doing it, but I just can’t. And once it starts interfering with family and work, football’s got to come second.”

Warren’s plastering and painting work has him tied up for the next six or seven Saturdays, but he had also become frustrated at a perceived lack of commitment on the part of some players.

“The commitment of people nowadays is just not there - that’s the main footballing reason for it,” he continued. “If they’re not going to be as committed as I am, you think ‘why am I not working on a Saturday or taking my kids out’?”

Warren took the helm in summer 2014 and led the club to a 12th place finish in the old Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two last season, although Westfield were relegated for ground grading reasons.

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Westfield currently lie eighth in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division Two with nine points from their first five matches.

Warren added that he’s loved his time at Westfield and the people behind the scenes ‘are probably the hardest working people of any club I’ve ever been at’.

“Like I said before, it’s one of the best clubs I’ve ever played for,” Warren said. “People don’t see how much work goes on, the day to day work that people do to keep that club going.”

Warren, a combative defender or midfielder on the pitch and a mean striker of a dead ball with his cultured left boot, gave his backing to Stapley.

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“Jack’s surprised me this year,” he added. “He’s a young lad, but he’s an absolutely brilliant coach. He knows his football inside out and he knows the players we’ve got there. Jack will be fine.”

Westfield have brought in two players from Hastings United’s under-21 team ahead of their trip to leaders Roffey tomorrow (Saturday).

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