Heggs vows to stand by his doomed Linnets

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Carl Heggs last night pledged to see it out to the bitter end at the Unibond Premier Division club.

Heggs only has two keepers left on his books after breaking up his squad, who were owed a fortnight's wages as Lynn fight a losing battle to rescind a High Court winding up order.

The Linnets' have until next week to overturn the original petition but chairman Ken Bobbins admitted to the EDP yesterday it was now looking 'very difficult' for Norfolk's flagship non league outfit to survive.

Heggs conceded he is braced for the worst but is prepared to consider managing a newly-formed King's Lynn club lower down the football tree.

“Absolutely, 100pc, no hesitation whatsoever,” he said. “I would think about it but there are no guarantees in football. A week ago I was re-negotiating Joe Magunda's and Lewis Webb's contracts after I got the go ahead from the chairman to give them �50 more a week. Seven days later we're all looking for a new job so tell me how that works.

“I've thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to quit. I've got Danny (Gay) and Ally (McAnally) and if we had a game to play I'd still get a result but I'm not going to jump ship - even though it's well under the water now. I'll see the ride out rather than throw my toys out the pram.”

Assistant boss Adam Sinclair is the latest member of Heggs' staff poised to leave The Walks.

“I think he's going to join Brackley as a coach,” said Heggs. “Listen, my squad was that good that within 24 hours they have had Conference North and higher clubs knocking the door down - with the exception of one or two. If we had a rubbish team they'd still be here but some are going to earn double what they are on at bigger clubs in better leagues.

“We've nothing in place now. When you give a player away you can't call them back for 28 days and if the contracted lads are not paid by this weekend they are also free agents so they can sign deals with new clubs.

“Do I think someone is going to come in now and say the money is paid? No, but if they did we'd have to play the reserves at Vauxhall. I wasn't in a position to ask the boys to stay although if the board had shown a slight bit of willing they would've stayed another week.”

Former finance director Dave Handley now expects the current club to fold.

“I just can't see Michael Chinn throwing more money at it to turn it around,” said Handley. “He sounds like he has had enough and the manager obviously feels the same. The only way the current club will be saved is if someone out there is prepared to throw a million pounds at it to buy out the existing board for their shares and loans and all the other directors who have bits and pieces in shares.”

Handley reiterated he is ready to pick up the pieces alongside the club's large fan base.

“Let's build a club for the right reasons and start from scratch - not with a mountain of debt,” he said. “I think the football club has been mismanaged and no one wants to see that but I think I can built it back up with the supporters playing a key role. I'm 35, ambitious, and in it for the long term.

“I'm ready now to step in and start planning for the future and so I'm declaring my intention here and now. It wouldn't be a long drawn out process. You could start the club again the following day if they get wound up and go from there.”

Handley is promising no quick fixes.

“Don't expect to get gates of 1,000 or so if we drop down,” he said. “It will take time but I think the supporters have shown so much passion during these last few days that proves they care about the club. We can come back stronger and in a couple of years be at the same level again.

“I know there are other stake holders in this but I'm sure the council would be prepared to work with anyone interested in ensuring football continues - that is the most important thing.”