John Kendall's 25-year association with Billericay Town appears to be over . . . at least for the time being.

For he was told at a committee meeting last night that he was not being re-engaged as manager.

Chairman Rod Moore broke the news - less than 24 hours after vice-president Tony Thake said he was prepared to stand against Moore in a fight to lead the Ryman League Premier club.

Thake said he has been urged to do so by a "significant" number of club members unhappy with the supremo and parts of his committee.

However, Moore insisted Kendall's departure was unconnected. He said: "The committee agreed unanimously a number of weeks ago that John would not be manager next season.

"I would sincerely like to thank John for his tremendous efforts for Town, particularly in the three seasons I have been chairman. But it was felt we needed a change of direction.

"As for the other matter, my view is we are not talking about a large number of club members being unhappy. It's a small number of renegades. How they would run this club if they took over I don't know.

"They would certainly lose a number of officiers who have spent 30 years or more serving Town as well as a number of highly-successful sections such as the ladies team.

"We have never been healthier. During my time here we've climbed back up to the Ryman Premier for the first time in 12 years.

"We've improved the ground to A grading and now have probably the best dressing rooms in Essex at non-league level. Just a few weeks ago we made a club record signing - Keiren Adams from Barnet.

"We now have a Town juniors set-up of over 200 youngsters. This club has an average crowd of nearly 700. Yet these people are struggling to get the 20 names needed for an emergency meeting.

"I've just had the latest list from them. It contains 19 club members' names, but also has a number of irregularities."

Things came to a head at the penultimate home game when a row broke out among two current officers and a former player in which a member of nearly 30 years standing had his membership revoked.

Said Thake, head of Thake Transport, who sponsored the club last term: "I have been approached by a group of members who are not happy with the direction this club is being taken.

"I think these people will have, enough names for an emergency meeting to be called. If the members back Rod and the committee, I will wish them all the best.

"Anyone who was at our last home game when we lost 3-0 to Aylesbury can see that the players' spirit is being affected by all this and I think it has to be for the good of Billericay for the whole thing to come out in the open."

"I have had plenty of offers to go to other clubs, but my heart is with Billericay. This club can really go places, but at the moment it's being torn apart.

Moore said that Billericay expected to name a new boss "within 48 hours." He added that three names figured prominently on their list, but had not ruled out the possibility of others applying.

Kendall has earned tremendous respect for his style of managership in recent seasons, guiding Billericay to their best ever runs in the FA Cup and Trophy.

Kendall said: "I'm bitterly disappointed at this decision, but wish Billericay Town all the best."

If Thake and the dissenting members do get their wish for change, it would be no surprise to see "JK" back involved in one form or other.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.