Borough make a point as Pike hints at takeover

Gosport Borough defender Rory Williams. centre, right, battles for the ball with an Oxford City opponent in Saturday's 0-0 draw Picture: Ian Hargreaves

It has been a difficult time for the management, with preparations hampered by off-the-field problems.

Borough boss Alex Pike admitted he had experienced an immensely challenging and tiring week with football matters overshadowed by off-the-field problems.

But he revealed that new investors could be arriving at the club ‘within days’ giving Borough fans a real sense of hope for the future.

Pike was forced to field a drastically-changed side after the club’s financial problems became public knowledge and he admitted the stress had got to him.

‘I think people were shocked to find they were getting emails from me in the middle of the night where I wasn’t sleeping,’ he said.

‘Then I was back on the phone at 7.30am talking to people,’ he said.

The beleaguered Gosport boss also explained further how the recent problems had affected him and his wife Jane, who is the club’s treasurer – then offered hope for the club’s future.

Pike said: ‘It has been tiring not only for me, but also for my wife, who works incredibly hard.

‘I’ve had to sit and watch her cry and that’s not easy to take.

‘Out of adversity comes positivity and although I can’t say too much at this stage, two people have shown interest in buying the club and investing in Gosport Borough.

‘Hopefully by next week we’ll be able to look back on this and have a laugh.’

Pike also reassured Borough supporters the club’s problems are only temporary and that he will not be walking away any time soon.

He said: ‘There are a lot of incredibly hard-working, loyal people here and they will never let this club sink.

‘It’s taken me 10 years to get this club where it is now and I won’t let it go backwards.

‘I’m a fighter. My players are fighting and we’re here to fight.

‘These lads are capable of finishing in the top five, there’s still 11 games to go and we need to put a run together and the lads will treat each one as a cup final.’

Under the circumstances, Borough must regard the point picked up against Oxford City as a good one.

Both teams had chances but neither could find the finishing touch.

Home goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore produced a couple of good saves and at the other end, Sam Pearce saw his header tipped onto the post.

Next up is tomorrow night’s tricky trip to the west country and Bath City (7.45pm), before fourth-placed Borough face an even tougher assignment at league-leaders Ebbsfleet United next weekend.

Gosport Borough: Ashmore, Cuthbertson, Williams, King, Woodford, Pearce, Barker, Harding, Brice (Jerrard 78), Bennett, Wilde (May 90). Att: 323