Crusaders set for big changes
Hungerford Town are searching for a new chairman and commercial manager after Patrick and Nicky Chambers announced their decision to step down at the end of this, their fourth and final season.
The husband and wife duo are set to take over the reins at National League North side Gloucester City next term as the Tigers go in search of promotion to the National League.
The Chambers have overseen one of the most challenging and successful period’s in the club’s history, navigating through the Covid pandemic while punching well above their weight in the National League South.
Off the field, a new stand has been built, attendances have doubled and Bulpit Lane has established a reputation as serving the league’s best burgers. On it, the Crusaders achieved a 12th placed finish last season, the second highest in their 137 year history.
However this season, when it comes to football at least, has proved far more difficult.
After the summer departure of top goalscorer Ryan Seager, the Crusaders are rock bottom of the National League South and seven points adrift of safety – although Saturday’s 1-0 win over Dover has left the outgoing chairman full of optimism that a great escape is still on the cards.
“We’d love to finish on a high, we’ve been playing well and have lost a lot of games by the odd goal, we’re hopeful Saturday could be the start of something special,” he said.
“It was an immensely difficult decision to move on because we have so much love for the club, but we feel it’s the right time.
“We’ve taken the club about as far as we think we can and we felt the opportunity at Gloucester was too good to turn down, it’s a big club with a lot of potential.
“I have always been a person who prefers to regret the things I have done, rather than those I haven’t, we both agree it's exciting for us.
“We’ve still got four months left at Hungerford and we’re totally committed, on and off the pitch we’ll be giving the club our all.”
One thing that won’t be leaving Bulpit Lane is the renowned burgers, as the kitchen staff prepare to take on Chambers’ new Gloucester kitchens in what the commercial manager has affectionately dubbed as the “burger wars”.
Meanwhile, the chairman admitted his conversation with boss Danny Robinson, whom Chambers brought to the club three seasons ago, was a “really difficult one”.
He said: “Danny’s a brilliant man and a top manager, it was a really difficult conversation to have.
“We’re focused on the next four months now, we’re both going to give everything we’ve got because we both absolutely love the club, what he wants to do after that is up to him.”
The search for a new chair and commercial manager is already underway, and the club are encouraging all interested parties to get in touch as soon as possible.
