NEW Histon chairman Tony Roach has branded Gareth Baldwin's behaviour "disgraceful" after his predecessor quit the club without telling him.

Stutes supremo Roach believed Baldwin, who stepped down as chairman earlier this month, would be remaining at the club as vice-chairman.

He is furious that his former colleague has failed to notify him of his decision to walk away from the club.

"Gareth has told the papers but not me," said Roach.

"It's disgraceful. The club has been left in an absolute mess and I can't believe he and his wife (former secretary Lisa Baldwin) have just walked away.

"There are a lot of questions and I need some answers. Me and the other directors have been left to pick up the pieces and take the club forward, so that's what we're going to do."

Roach is adamant the club can clear its overdue debts by the turn of the year and no longer thinks a fire-sale of players will be necessary.

Josh Simpson has gone on loan to Coca-Cola Championship Peterborough with a view to a permanent deal, while Kieran Leabon has completed a similar move to Blue Square North strugglers Harrogate.

Roach said: "After my first full week, I feel very optimistic that we can get through this period and I don't think we're going to have to sell loads and loads of our players.

"Our aim is to have cleared all overdue debts by January. I'm sure that will happen - we're a long way towards achieving that already."

The Stutes signed teenage Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Sam Cox on a month-long loan a week ago.

Cox, 19, arrives at the Blue Square Premier club amid financial problems and the departure of midfielder Josh Simpson, on loan to Peterborough United.

Stutes boss Steve Fallon told the club website: "It's great to secure a youngster of his quality in these circumstances with so many injuries."

Cox will continue to train with Spurs development squad throughout his loan.

With both Danny Wright injured and Craig Hammond still struggling for fitness, the Stutes will have limited attacking options if Bradley Hudson-Odoi does go on loan to Grays Athletic.

Fallon said the club were looking at more possible players to bring in, but as Histon look to ease their financial problems he said it was unlikely.

"We've got one or two players in mind, but we've got problems we're trying to sort out at the football club, so we've got to make sure everything is right for this to happen," he added. "It's not right to have lots of problems and still bring players in."

Fallon has been named the Non-League Directory manager of the year for the 2008-09 season.

The Histon boss was due to head down to Wembley on Thursday to pick up the award, which recognises Histon's achievements in both the Blue Square Premier and FA Cup last term.

Meanwhile, chief executive Allen Soraff has revealed the club are still waiting for official confirmation from former chairman Gareth Baldwin that he has quit the club.

Speaking at a fans' forum at the Glass World Stadium on Wednesday night, Soraff said: "He (Baldwin) hasn't given us a formal letter of confirmation.

"Until he does, as far as we're concerned, he's still a director."

Chairman Tony Roach told supporters the club's finances have been stabilised, but that they still need to find £260,000 by May to break even.

Meanwhile, Lanre Oyebanjo is certain to leave Histon in January, according to chairman Tony Roach.

The club are yet to receive a firm offer for the defender, who played in the Republic of Ireland Under-21s' 4-1 defeat to Armenia yesterday.

But Roach believes the young full-back, who joined the Stutes in August 2008 after being released by Brentford, will depart the Glass World Stadium for a Football League club when the transfer window opens.

Oyebanjo could yet follow in Josh Simpson's footsteps and head to Peterborough, where he had a recent trial after impressing director of football Barry Fry, and become one of new manager Mark Cooper's first signings.

"I think Lanre will go in January as he wants to play in the Football League," said Roach. "I had a conversation with Lanre's agent on Monday and there are no physical offers in for him at the moment, but there's lots of interest.

"Barry Fry looks at the players and finds the players for Peterborough and he's very interested. But they've got a new manager and he'll have his own ideas.

"It's out of our hands as his agent will do the best he can for him, because that's his job. Lanre and his agent have made it clear that his future lies in the Football League."

The Stutes would still receive a fee for Oyebanjo if he were to leave when his contract expires in the summer as he is under 23.

Roach added: "He's definitely good enough to be playing in the League now.

"But I don't think he'll jump at the first team that offers him money. He's got to weigh things up and make the right decision for him.

"We're not desperate to sell him and we'd still get money for him at the end of the season. But it would be better to get the right amount of money for him in January."

Manager Steve Fallon is welcoming the chance to be playing at home once again.

"A lot has gone on since our last home game, so it will be nice to be playing in front of our fans and it's important they get behind the players," he said.

"Wrexham are one of the bigger clubs in this league, but they have been struggling at home, probably due to high expectations.

"On their travels they have a decent record and I'm sure they'll bring a few supporters which will help create a decent atmosphere.

"We want to get the Rushden & Diamonds performance out of our system, although conditions didn't help, although it was one of our poorer displays this season.

"At least we should have Lanre Oyebanjo and Nathaniel Knight-Percival back. They are important to us and we'll be building the team around them."

Cambridge Evening News

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