BOSS Jason Matthews insisted “I feel the fans’ frustrations” as he gets set to address supporters following Saturday’s home game against Stratford Town (3pm).
Weymouth are set to hold a fans’ forum following their Town tester this weekend, with both the player-manager and chairman Chris Pugsley set to be in attendance.
Matthews, whose side have underperformed so far in the league this term, has received a number of calls to step down from the role as manager online, via social media.
While he admits that he is “still under pressure” he is looking to address any disgruntled supporters by answering their questions face-to-face this weekend.
“Obviously I know that I am still under pressure from certain quarters,” he told Echosport.
“There is no getting away from it, we have drawn too many games this season and people expected us to be in the top five, even with playing less games.
“Obviously, even if we won those four or five games we wouldn’t be in the top five and I feel the fans’ frustrations.
“There are a lot of questions that people feel I haven’t answered. Now is the chance for me to answer them face-to-face.”
Quizzed on whose decision it was to call the forum, Matthews replied: “It was a joint one really. Obviously there is some unrest and it gives people the chance to chat to us face-to-face.”
Also asked if he felt his players would give him that little bit extra to get him a win going into the forum, Matthews pulled no punches in his reply.
He said: “That should not come into the equation.
“The lads should give 120 per cent every time they put a Weymouth shirt on. Nobody has thrown in the towel in the dressing room.
“As I said to the boys on Tuesday, if they are going to throw the towel in, perhaps they can see me and asked to be released.”
Matthews is hoping to have Ashley Wells back from illness this weekend and will monitor the progress of Calvin Brooks, who was ruled out in midweek with a back injury.
Ben Thomson (side strain) and Mark Cooper (hamstring) are still out, while Chris Allen is expected to return.
*Shareholders are invited to attend the club’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, February 17 (7pm). The meeting will take place in the main bar of the Bob Lucas Stadium. An agenda and copy of the club’s accounts will be available in advance of the meeting by contacting the club office, on commercial@theterras.co.uk
