BILLERICAY Town’s joint managers Jason Broom and Grant Gordon will not be sacked after Saturday’s shambolic Ryman Premier defeat at Ashford Town (Mddx).

The Echo understands that the duo, in charge for a year, both intimated that they were prepared to stand down after their latest setback saw Town plunge to 16th in the table against a team that had lost their previous home league game 7-1.

For the second time this season, Town were reduced to nine men after goalkeeper Tony Tucker and substitute striker Rikki Burbridge were sent-off.

But club chairman Steve Kent has issued a stirring “carry on” message to the duo prior to tonight’s third attempt at playing their Essex Senior Cup third round tie at fellow Premier Division club Harlow Town.

In his chairman’s blog on Town’s official website, Kent admits: “I’m not making excuses for anyone, or for anything. I’m just telling how it is and I don’t think it right that we axe our managers because of our recent losses.

“Yes, Jason and Grant have made mistakes and if things don’t improve and/or they show an inability to learn from their mistakes then I will take a look at the situation again.

“As the current custodian of Billericay Town I am mindful of its 128-year history and how very close it was to folding a few years back.

“I’m also mindful of the fact that we have to provide entertainment that our customers will enjoy. If you’re reading this then there’s every chance that your favoured BTFC entertainment is football and, in particular, winning football.

“I know we (that’s the management and board) have to do better.

“I’ve made mistakes this season, but I don’t believe I should stand down because of those - and I don’t believe Grant and Jason should go either.

“Jason and Grant have good qualities. Both of them have one such quality in abundance and that’s honesty.

“I have spoken with them both and their self-appraisal was as honest as you could get.

“I believe that if they can start to win games (the most important thing) then we will be very lucky to have them.

“Winning games is urgent, but our football club is what’s important. We have been trying to get it right for 128 years, whatever ‘right’ is, and we will keep trying.”

Kent capped a bad weekend by not only seeing Town’s disaster at Ashford but the next day watching the ladies team lose 15-0 to much higher rated opposition in West Ham Ladies in the Essex Women’s Cup.

Then, when he returned from that match, he discovered the new house he’s building had been broken into and robbed!

Town have been crippled by a massive injury list for the opening months of the season but, in an extremely tight division, remain only seven points off the play-offs with games in hand on many of the clubs above them.