We're soccerbrokers not stockbrokers: Changes at the top at Eastbourne Borough

Eastbourne Borough have announced a restructuring at the top.
There's a restructuring of top roles at The SportsThere's a restructuring of top roles at The Sports
There's a restructuring of top roles at The Sports

Since becoming a Community Interest Club several years ago, the club has operated with both a CIC Chairman and a Football Club Chairman – sometimes duplicating each other and often confusing outsiders.

From this week, Football Chairman John Bonar becomes CEO, and CIC chair David Blackmore becomes Club Chairman.

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Bonar said: “I’ve recently sold my business, which was the regional branch of the DPD freight and delivery company. It’s much too early to retire, I suppose, so I am swapping my day job for a morning, noon and night job at Priory Lane!

“Since tragically losing our legendary previous CEO Mike Spooner, to cancer more than two years ago, we have never properly replaced him. Perhaps he was simply irreplaceable. But I will be covering all the bases at Priory Lane day to day – in the office, around the ground. I love the club and love to be hands-on.”

Blackmore, who has not given up the day job, will deal with CIC business but is also closely engaged with team affairs. “This just about clarity,” he explained. “John and I are a partnership – Bonar and Blackmore. We sound like stockbrokers but we’re soccerbrokers.”

The Sports have also said a warm farewell this week with commercial manager Guy Pearson, a highly popular figure who has worked tirelessly in the role for the past four years, but needs to give more time to his own local cleaning business.

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“Guy has been a fantastic servant to the club,” said Blackmore. “He is not severing all connections – he’s manager of our all-conquering Under-10s squad, and he won’t be shifted from that role in a hurry!”

Replacing Guy is new commercial manager Sian Ansell – a local resident and parent who, as a qualified FA coach, also runs the Sports’ Under-9 side. There’s Priory Lane continuity for you...

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