Edgware Town are deep in crisis, following a mass walk-out.

Manager John Harding and all but three of the first team squad resigned following a 6-1 hiding at Ware on Saturday. Chairman Paul Karaiskos, who is also reserve team manager, took charge and played in the side beaten 3-1 at Bracknell on Tuesday.

Harding said: "I made up my mind that I would be resigning before we beat Leighton Town 7-1 the previous Tuesday.

"The club had been operating with a small budget, and I knew they would not be able to pay the players after the Leighton game. I did not want to let the players down, and I tried several times to arrange a meeting with chairman Paul Karaiskos to discuss the situation, but scheduled meetings were cancelled, and I decided to call it a day.

"I don't feel any animosity the club has been struggling to stay alive and the chairman has worked tremendously hard to keep things going.

"But I am very disappointed. When I took over towards the end of last season, I had to start from scratch and build a side.

"I put my heart and soul into the task for four months, and signed 51 players in an attempt to achieve a top six place that would give us promotion. But I also realised that if we moved up into Division One, we would not be able afford the money needed to stay there."

Chairman Karaiskos said: "When I and my associates came into the club in the summer of 2000, it was on the floor. We had no experience of non-league football, and there was nobody to help us.

"We've worked hard to keep the club going. We're still here, still fighting and we won't walk away. What we need is people to help, and they don't have to be experienced in running a club at this level. They may be able to help in some other way.

"Our biggest task is to find business people willing to invest money in the club."

November 21, 2001 19:07

JOHN POLLARD