The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Pat Rayment insists change must happen to the structure of Spalding United if he is to remain as manager.
Rayment tendered his resignation on Friday and said publicly that he had had enough of an ongoing boardroom struggle.
However, his resignation was not accepted by the club and after a lengthy day of discussions he remained in charge.
Club chairman Chris Toynton insists that he is fully behind Rayment’s desire to keep pushing the Tulips higher up the non-league ladder.
Toynton said he was working “24/7” to bring in further financial support and more volunteer help to meet the increasing expense and workload.
He said: “I’m doing an awful lot behind the scenes. I am working 24/7 to give Pat the tools he needs at the next level, but first of all we have to get to that next level.
“Pat is looking, in his mind, at going for the championship. He is the one who has given the club credibility because fans want to see their team winning.
“Pat is good for Spalding United and we are good for Pat.”
Meanwhile, Rayment insists he will be keeping a watchful eye on the situation and walking away from his position is not off the agenda.
He said on Sunday: “It wasn’t a case of me spitting the dummy.
“If people think I was doing it for my benefit they are sadly mistaken. I had nothing to benefit from this.
“My resignation wasn’t a threat. The structure of the club has to change and I’ll be watching to make sure it does. Hopefully my action will kick things into gear.
“I’ve had assurances from a couple of people that things will change and I’ve had the backing of the players who were disappointed to see me going.
“But this remains an open situation.”
He added: “This club is now finding itself in a position it’s never been in before [on the field] and change has to happen off it.”
Former chief executive Malcolm Gray and former co-chairman Eddie Reeve, who Rayment claimed had quit late last week, are still involved with the club.
Spalding United said: “Rayment gave notice of his decision to leave the club early on Friday morning, but following some reassuring and lengthy telephone conversations during the day retracted his notice and was back with his team for Saturday’s trip into Staffordshire.”
Rayment was back in the dugout on Saturday as the Tulips extended their unbeaten league run to 13 matches. with a 2-2 result at Norton United.
