Hill fights back after cash shock

Hornchurch, the club dubbed 'Chelsea of the Conference', were still scratching around for a team today, just over 24 hours before they were due to meet Boston in the FA Cup.

Manager Garry Hill was calling in favours, telephoning old mates and trawling through lists of names in an effort to field a half-decent team for tomorrow's first-round tie following the departure of most of his players after the news that owner Carl Williams's company, the Carthium Group, had gone into liquidation.

This wasn't what Hill had in mind when he was tempted away from Dagenham & Redbridge, the club he had so nearly taken into the Football League. The main focus of Williams's business is double-glazing which may have been why, when Hill accepted the challenge to join Hornchurch, he insisted that a substantial amount of the salary from his three-year contract be paid up front.

Estimates vary from £80,000 to £125,000 but Hill said today: "All of that is private but amounts bandied about are just not true."

What is undeniable, however, is that Hill firmly believed that, with Hornchurch he could finally achieve his ambition of managing a club that would bridge the gulf between the Conference and League Two.

All that went belly-up just over a week ago when Williams's financial problems first surfaced.

"It was so sudden," said Hill. " Noone had an inkling of what was about to happen. There we were, top of the Conference South, having just had nearly 1,700 fans turn up to see us beat Gravesend & Northfleet in the Cup, and suddenly someone pulled the rug out from under our feet."

By a cruel twist of fate, the bad news surfaced just before Hornchurch were due to play in a Carthium Cup tie, sponsored by Williams's company, and Hill admitted: "I was in shock for a while. The players here were full-time and suddenly the cheques were stopped. They weren't being paid and they had to look elsewhere. That left us without a team though."

While most of his players left immediately, Hill has remained to pick up the pieces. For an FA Trophy first-round tie against Arlesey, his team included 15-year-old Billy Drake and despite the furore, Hornchurch even managed to win 1-0.

Three days later Hornchurch were back in action again and this time Hills's line-up included Mark Robson, the former Tottenham, West Ham and Charlton player, but they were beaten 3-2 by Dorchester. "It's been a very emotional time," said Hill. "I know there's always a risk in football but there was just no warning this was going to happen.

"I had come so close with Dagenham & Redbridge. In 2001 there was the saga with Boston when they took the Championship away from us and then we lost the play-off final. Now this has happened. I'm thinking of changing my name to 'Lucky!'"

Williams remains the majority shareholder and there have been rumours that there are several potential investors interested in buying into the ailing non-league club. Fans are already planning an 'Urchins' Aid Concert and auction to raise funds. Hill, however, remains at Hornchurch for the time being and is philosophical about the situation.

"I know there are problems now but the owner had been doing a superb job here," he said. "In spite of everything I don't regret coming here. I still have that dream that one day I will win the Championship."

For now, though, Hill's biggest challenge is finding 11 decent players for tomorrow's trip to Boston.

Meanwhile, Martin Allen will warn the referee for tonight's FA Cup clash with Bristol City not to be intimidated by the Ashton Gate crowd.

The Brentford manager said: "I hope the referee is strong enough to handle what can be a very intimidating atmosphere."

Local non-league clubs in FA Cup first round: Tomorrow (3pm unless stated): Barnet v Bath, Billericay v Stevenage, Boston v Hornchurch, Hayes v Wrexham, Leyton Orient v Dag & Red, Notts County v Woking, Slough v Walsall (2.00). Sunday: Thurrock v Oldham (2.00, live on BBC1).

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