MARK Coleman has insisted “no one is in the frame at the moment” for the vacant managerial post at Weymouth FC.
Assistant-manager Brendon King is currently the frontrunner for the role and will be interviewed today although other names are being linked with the position, including ex-Terra Alex Browne, who recently stepped down from the hot-seat at Wimborne Town.
Associate director Coleman told Echosport: “We have advertised the position and asked Brendon to carry things on in the meantime.
“We have already received a bit of interest but no one is in the frame at the moment and we haven’t been speaking to anyone.
“This has all very much come out of the blue as all our efforts over the past few weeks have been geared towards trying to keep Martyn Rogers here.
“Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened and now we must move on and try and get someone else in as soon as possible.”
Coleman held talks with Rogers last week in a bid to get him to stay and accept the terms of the playing budget that has been set for the forthcoming season, which is believed to be between £850 and £1,250 per week.
However, the ex-Tiverton Town boss is understood to have wanted at least twice that figure in order to mount a push towards the Southern Premier Division play-offs.
Coleman added: “The fact Martyn has gone is awful and a huge shame because he is a smashing bloke and everything we want in a manager.
“However, after last season and with the current economic climate how it is, the club needs a year or so where it keeps things sensible and steady.
“It certainly doesn’t show a lack of ambition because we have got loads of that, it is just times are tough out there at the moment and we do not want to live anywhere above our means.
“Most people I have spoken to over the weekend didn’t want Martyn to go either but also agree that keeping the club going is the most important thing.
“Martyn has a lot of ambition and we wish him well wherever he goes from here but at the end of the day as a club we have to be realistic.”
Weymouth FC Supporters Assoc-iation chairman Ade McDonald has echoed those sentiments.
He said: “As I understand it, it was a mutual agreement where Martyn decided he could not work within the budget the club has set.
“Back at the recent fans’ forum, it was unanimously agreed that the club would operate within its means for the forthcoming season rather than accept loans, and that is still what we want to see happen.
“It is obviously disappointing to see Martyn go as he would have been the right man to lead us in the future but the club simply cannot afford to operate outside of it means in the current climate.
“Stability, stability, stability, that is what everyone wants and we respect the club for sticking by what the fans voted for.
“I know Martyn had aspirations of pushing for the play-offs but the truth is I think most fans would settle for mid-table obscurity and a bit of stability both on and off the pitch.
“It would now be nice to see a new manager come in and retain the likes of Warren Byerley and Jamie Beasley, and begin building around them.
“We have seen many different players come and go in recent years and it is time we started putting together a settled squad but we understand that won’t just happen overnight.”
McDonald went on to add: “On behalf of the fans we would like to thank Martyn for all his efforts in keeping us up last season and helping the club avoid a third successive relegation.
“We also wish him every success in the future.”
* Former Rangers’ defender Chris Vinnicombe, who succeeded Rogers as Tiverton boss, has also shown an interest in the post, along with Mike Fowler, who ended the season as the Terras' captain.
* Echosport wants to know who you would like to see succeed Martyn Rogers. Please leave a comment below.
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