Pike questions Gosport Borough future

Gosport Borough manager Alex Pike is questioning his future after his side ended their National League South campaign in dismal fashion.
Gosport Borough boss Alex Pike, right   Picture: Paul JacobsGosport Borough boss Alex Pike, right   Picture: Paul Jacobs
Gosport Borough boss Alex Pike, right Picture: Paul Jacobs

Borough finished with a disappointing 5-2 home defeat against already relegated Hayes & Yeading.

Pike admitted afterwards he wasn’t sure what the future held for him.

He said: ‘I’ve got to look at what I want out of football.

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‘At this moment in time I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach and I am asking myself if I’ve got the stomach for the fight.

‘As a manager do you really want to make a knee-jerk reaction and say maybe I’ve taken Gosport as far as I possibly can?

‘I know that I’ve let these players and supporters down.

‘These are a good bunch of honest players and what they have done for the club in my time, the last 10 years, has been absolutely magnificent.

‘The team spirit they’ve had has been snuffed out like a pilot light.’

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Pike admits he isn’t sure how long he needs to think things through.

‘Football’s about enjoyment and if you’re not enjoying it you need to get out,’ he said.

‘We’ve still got a cup final on Tuesday and I will be at that game but I will certainly make my mind up after that.’

After falling behind after nine minutes Borough hit back immediately to level just 90 seconds later.

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The visitors failed to deal with an Adam Wilde corner and Dan Wooden turned the ball home from close range.

Justin Bennett, in his final league game before leaving, put Borough ahead on the hour with a delightful free-kick.

After that, however, the home side fell apart.

Elliott Benyon, who terrorised the home defence all afternoon, went on to complete his hat-trick with Dylan Kearney also grabbing a brace.

Assistant manager Mick Catlin regarded the final game as a bridge too far for their beleaguered squad.

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He said: ‘We got ourselves into a good position at 2-1 up but then suffered a catastrophic 10 minutes.

‘During that spell we conceded four goals which finished us off and put the game to bed for them.

‘We looked dead on our feet and couldn’t respond in any way.

‘I am glad the league season is finally over.

‘The second half of the campaign has been very tough for us.

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‘On our second half of the season form however we would have been relegated.

‘Once financial worries set in and a few players left then it began to hit our confidence.

‘We now face a big job of trying to rebuild for next season.

‘It is a case of looking at who we can keep and whether we can bring new players in.

‘We have to try and get the club back on an even keel.’