Lions boss departs (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Lions boss George leaves by mutual consent

4:25pm Monday 25th February 2013 in Andover By Sports editor Kerry Miller

PROMOTION chasing Andover Lions are looking for a new manager once again as they have parted company with player-boss Paul George at the weekend.

The Lions lost 5-2 to Crusaders in the Trophyman Cup on Saturday after which George left the club ‘by mutual consent’ following discussions with secretary Chris Paris and player-chairman Darren Paris.

“We both had reasons for this happening and I felt there were a couple of key factors but it was an amicable split and there are no hard feelings” he told the Advertiser.

It comes at the start of a busy week where Lions are at Whitchurch tomorrow in the Andover Open Cup followed by a top of the table game at Lyndhurst on Saturday which could well go someway to defining the last couple of months of the campaign.

Secretary Chris Paris is in temporary charge for those two matches and thanked Paul for his efforts adding "Paul is the best manager we have had and I am hugely disappointed to lose him. We were getting stability and he is a superb coach and keen trainer and will be sorely missed."

George was the fourth manager of the fledgling club in a little over one and a half seasons and Paris is keen to hear from anyone interested in applying for the job as the club continue to press for promotion to the Hampshire Premier League.

Full story and match report in Friday’s Advertiser