No regrets after surprise exit

Stamford's former Chairman Chris Rivett says he has no regrets about leaving the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club just eight months into his tenure.

Rivett's exit was confirmed by the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Daniels earlier this week following a meeting of the club's shareholders to consider a proposed investment offer by Regal Sports Press. Rivett is a director of the sports publisher and stood down after failing to gain the necessary backing from shareholders. Daniels’ commercial manager Peter Davis also left following the meeting after less than four months at the club.

The former Daniels Chairman, pictured, told the Peterborough Telegraph on Friday that he felt a cash injection was essential ahead of the club's proposed move to a new stadium, currently pencilled in for the 2014-15 season.

Rivett, who had dreams of leading the club up the Non-League ladder, said: "I made no secret of the fact that I felt investment in the club and improvements to its infrastructure were required. The Regal Sports Press offer would have addressed both issues but unfortunately it didn't work out.

"That left myself and the board in a difficult position and I said I would step aside at the end of the season if they felt they could find a better person to take the club forward. The club's view was that if they had to learn to live without me it was better to do that immediately and I respect that decision.

"First and foremost a football club has to be a brand and a business. Integration with the wider community is an essential ingredient in the club's strategy. I believe the board have a big responsibility to engage in this area if they are to ensure growth because a successful football team will benefit the town massively too.

"I'm disappointed to be leaving but proud of what was achieved in a short space of time and leave with no regrets. I could not risk the club finding itself in a situation where it receives the keys to a new stadium but is nowhere near ready to move into it.

He added: "I feel sure that with our investment Stamford could have held its own at Step 2 level. Stamford have a manager in Wayne Hatswell who will go on to be very successful on the pitch and hopefully someone else can come in and take the club forward off it."

In a statement released following his exit, Stamford's Board thanked Rivett for his efforts and said they would be making no further comment.

The statement read: "In a meeting prior to Monday's AGM, Chris Rivett informed the board of directors it was his intention to stand down as chairman at the end of the season. Following the discussion that followed it was agreed it was in the club's interest for Chris to leave with immediate effect.

"The board would like to thank Chris for the significant contribution he has made to the club during his time as chairman, and that of his staff at Final Third Sports Media. The club will be making no further comment on this subject."