Grays Athletic

Grays face delay to stadium move
Grays Athletic now look likely to stay at Bridge Road for a further season following a delay to their proposed ground move. They planned to leave the Recreation Ground this summer but are set to stay while they pursue plans for a new home. Chairman Mick Woodward said: "Things are not progressing as fast as we would have wished with the new ground. "We are continuing to push ahead with our plans and will strive to overcome the obstacles set in front of us." Woodward told his club's website: "We have reviewed the costs of a ground share and this would incur a large amount of finance to ensure that the ground we shared with met the Conference League standards. "Therefore the likelihood is that we will remain at The New Recreation Ground for another season. "We are negotiating the lease at present and there is an increase of rent to be taken into consideration. "I am confident that things will start going according to plan and I hope that the fans will support the club with these decisions."

Grays extend Obersteller's loan
Grays Athletic have secured the services of on-loan Wycombe Wanderers defender Jack Obersteller until the end of the season. However, midfielder Alan Power has been recalled from his loan spell at Bridge Road by Nottingham Forest. The 20-year-old had scored twice in six appearances for Grays. Former Millwall youngster Obersteller, 19, has been at Grays since November and has now had his loan spell extended until the end of the campaign.

Former Grays keeper Eyre returns
Former Grays Athletic goalkeeper Nicky Eyre has returned to his former club on a loan deal. Eyre returns to the New Recreation Ground until the end of the season from current club St Albans. The 22-year-old started his career at Tottenham Hotspur representing England at under-15 and under-17 level. He has also had spells at Dagenham & Redbridge and Rushden & Diamonds before joining St Albans for the start of the 2007-08 campaign.

Gills duo to see out Grays season
Grays Athletic have extended the loan deals of Stuart Thurgood and Barry Cogan until the end of the season. Both midfielders joined the mid-table Blue Square Premier side from League One outfit Gillingham in March. Cogan, 22, has been influential in the side's nine-match unbeaten run, scoring five times in eight games. Thurgood, 26, has also played eight times during his second spell with the club, having previously spent four years at the New Recreation Ground.

Grays recall loan keeper Knowles
Grays Athletic have recalled goalkeeper Danny Knowles from his loan spell with Fisher Athletic. The 22-year-old will return to the Essex side following an injury to Nicky Eyre against Northwich Victoria. With Eyre joining Ross Flitney on the injury list for the rest of the season, boss Mick Woodward only had Jake Whincup available to him. Knowles will go straight into the Grays squad for Tuesday's Blue Square Premier match with Salisbury City.

Fans to decide on Woodward future
Grays Athletic chairman Mike Woodward has said he could still be persuaded to stay at the club. Woodward quit as manager on Saturday and announced he was selling his shares in the club, following comments from fans about his running of the club. But a fans' forum has now been organised for Thursday. He told BBC Essex: "I'll leave the decision to the supporters and if they back me and want me to stay, then I will stay." "If they don't want me to, then I will put my shares of the club up and I will let somebody else take the club over," he added. "If there are certain people out there who want to come and run the club, then just pay me a bit of money that I am owed and they are more than welcome to take it over." Woodward added the amount of abuse he had received from a section of Athletic's fans was the prime reason for his decision. "When people start attacking my family and my friends, it makes you feel that you are on the defensive," he explained. "The one thing I will put my hands up to is I made a mistake in being the manager. "I can't burn the candle at both ends, so the one thing I will hold my hands up to, and I'll be honest with the fans and to myself, is that I made a mistake. "That's why that has been handed over to Tim O'Shea, Gary Phillips and Neil Smith and they will do an excellent job."

Grays bring in St Aimie and Rigg
Grays Athletic have signed former QPR winger Keiron St Aimie and Bristol Rovers midfielder Sean Rigg on loan. St Aimie, who is on a one-month deal, has made one start and three substitute appearances for the Bees this season. The 19-year-old joined Barnet midway through last season following a successful trial after being spotted playing for QPR's reserve team. Rigg, who is also 19 and can play on the left side of midfield or up front, joined Rovers in 2006.

Burnett to be new Grays manager
Grays Athletic have announced Wayne Burnett will take over as manager at the end of the month. Burnett will take charge of the Blue Square Premier on 29 September, replacing current incumbent Tim O'Shea, who will remain on the coaching staff. The former Fisher Athletic boss will be the club's third manager this season, following Mike Woodward's decision to step down from the role last week. Before management, Burnett played for Plymouth, Grimsby and Huddersfield.

Grays display disappoints Burnett
Grays Athletic manager Wayne Burnett said he felt sorry for the fans after their 0-0 draw with Lewes on Saturday. The two teams remain in the bottom four of the Blue Square Premier table and the new Grays boss admitted it had not been a good performance. A frustrated Burnett told BBC Essex: "I'm disappointed to say the least - again we weren't clever enough, there wasn't enough guile or creativity. "If I was a fan I'd be bitterly disappointed paying to watch that." Burnett added: "I wanted and expected more, my expectation levels are incredibly high and I want us to be successful." The game was Burnett's first league match in charge since taking over at the beginning of the week. And he confirmed he would be looking to make changes to his playing staff. "I've got a good group of players and we have got a few injuries at the moment but that shouldn't take us away from our performance - it wasn't good at all. "I think we need certain individuals in to strengthen the team and we'll do that."

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