Vines denies rumour over resignation
11:18am Thursday 1st May 2008
FRANCIS Vines has denied that he was lined up to take over at Farnborough before resigning as Basingstoke Town manager, writes John Boyman.
The former Town boss was unveiled as Farnborough's new manager last week.
He will replace Andy Clement, who has guided Farnborough to the Southern League Division One South and West title, at Cherrywood Road, on May 12.
Clement had told the Farnborough board of his intention to resign, due to increased work commitments, at the beginning of March - around the same time that Vines resigned from his post at The Camrose.
This, combined with the fact that Vines and for-mer Basingstoke commercial manager Steve Duly, who now works for Farnborough, are long-time friends, sparked speculation that the manager quit Town in order to move to their north Hampshire rivals.
However, Vines denies this, claiming that he knew noth-ing about Clement's departure until Farnborough approached him a short time ago.
"I did not know about the situation at Farnborough when I resigned," he said.
"They first spoke to me about three weeks ago because, before that, I think they were trying to talk Andy out of resigning."
Talk that Vines (pictured left) might end up at Cherrywood Road has been rife around The Camrose ever since he decided to resign, but Paul Carney, Basingstoke's operations director, said there are no hard feelings between the two parties.
"It was a fairly open secret that Francis might be attracted to the job at Farnborough and we wish him all the best," Carney said.
"He made his own decision to leave Basingstoke because he felt that he would not have a competitive team next season. I don't think that will be the case, but there is no ill-will there."
Clement is leaving Farnborough after leading them to the Southern League Premier Division in his first season at the club.
His final game in charge will be next week's Hampshire Senior Cup final against Basingstoke at AFC Bournemouth's Dean Court.
"I will be at the Hampshire Cup Final, but will have one foot in either camp because I still see the boys at Basingstoke as my lads," said Vines.