High fives for King and Groves (From Dorset Echo)

High fives for King and Groves

9:08am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sport By Adam Summers

AGREED TO SIGN: Matt Groves and Brendon King

BRENDON King and Matt Groves have agreed five-year contracts at Weymouth FC despite huge question marks still hanging over the future of the Rolls family.

The club’s owners made the announcement about the management team yesterday, just 24 hours after claiming talks were ongoing with several interested parties about a possible takeover.

Despite King and Groves having seemingly steadied the ship at the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division outfit this season, the decision to offer the duo such long-term deals will no doubt anger certain sections of the Terras’ faithful, who remain disillusioned by the Rolls regime.

When asked to explain the board’s reasoning behind the length of the contracts, former chairman George Rolls, who continues to be linked with Kettering, said: “In the summer a lot of people questioned the appointment of Brendon and Matt but they have proved a lot of doubters wrong.

“This season was always about staying up which they have nearly achieved with probably another five points needed to guarantee that.

“Not only that but they are also easy to work with and they understand the ethos of the club and where it wants to go.

“They have bought into how things need to be working and how we need to go forward, and that is why the club is delighted to secure them both to five-year contracts.

“Some people might say such a long-term agreement is crazy but it is going to take them a couple of years to get the club back to where we want it to be in terms of finances and stability-wise, particularly in the current economic climate.

“It is a big leap of faith by the club but we believe it is the right way to go.

“It will also allow players and sponsors to commit to next season safe in the knowledge that they will now know that the manager is here for the long term.”

King is obviously delighted with the offer and is now looking for-ward to building on the progress the club has made in the months ahead.

He said: “This deal is something we have strived for as it gives us some stability now, which at the end of the day is what everybody wants.

“This is our first season managing at this level and I think we have done okay.

“I stress the word okay because with a bit more consistency we could be doing even better.

“We are learning all the time and the fact we now know we are here for the long term will allow us to start putting our plans into action and get a better structure in place, which has got to be good for everybody.”

Commenting on the timing of the announcement, King went on to say: “As far as I am concerned my role is to do with what happens on the pitch.

“Having said that, I do have a lot of conversations with the board in regards to football-related matters and I am sure if something was happening I would be the first to know.

“I have not heard anything at all in regards to changes off the field and all I am doing now is concentrating on preparing for another big game against Stourbridge on Saturday.”