United journey to troubled Grays Athletic this evening looking for a return to winning ways following Saturday's eventful 4-3 reverse at home to Luton. The Essex side travelled to Forest Green last weekend, but returned with a 2-1 defeat which saw them drop to twenty-third place in the Blue Square Premier table.
Blues fans have suffered more than most over the past couple of years, with a tightening of the purse strings dancing hand in hand with sometimes controversial leadership off the pitch.

The beginnings of uncertainty are traced back to Mark Stimson's departure to Stevenage in 2006. As Manager Stimson had brought the club unparalleled success, but his exit kicked the revolving door to his office well and truly into life, and it has not stopped spinning since.

During the 2006/07 season ex-Leeds midfielder Frank Gray, Chairman Mick Woodward, former Swindon boss Andy King and now Rushden boss Justin Edinburgh served time in the hot-seat. There was also an embarrassing saga surrounding the on-off appointment of Gary Hill as Director of Football. Edinburgh managed to keep his position heading into the 2007/08 campaign, but what little optimism there was became quickly unravelled when just four wins were gleaned from the opening sixteen games and, despite a mid-season improvement, the former Spurs defender was shown the door, and Woodward again installed himself as boss.

Just nine games into last season Woodward had another change of heart and the reins were temporarily handed to Tim O'Shea, along with coaches Gary Phillips and Neil Smith. A permanent Manager arrived in the shape of ex-Grimsby defender Wayne Burnett, whose brief was to move Grays away from the drop zone. Former Fisher Athletic boss Burnett slowly moulded his squad and results began to improve, Oxford were beaten 2-0 at the Recreation Ground to release the pressure whilst a 1-1 FA Cup draw at Carlisle boosted flagging spirits. Even the blow of losing talented striker Danny Kedwell to AFC Wimbledon was softened by the re-signing of fans favourite Jamie Slabber; a prolific front man in his first spell with the club.

Their eventual FA Cup exit to Carlisle and a cringe worthy 4-2 Setanta Shield home defeat to Chelmsford aside, the horizon looked bright for Athletic as they clambered out of the drop zone. Nevertheless, upheaval was once again lurking around the corner and, despite Burnett guiding the Blues up to seventeenth place during a run of two losses in eight games, he was strangely relieved of his duties. Phillips again stepped in on a temporary basis, assisted by senior Pro's Jamie Stuart and Stuart Elliott, with the former Barnet keeper navigating Grays to an eventual nineteenth place finish.

During the summer Craig Edwards was appointed first team Manager following his departure from Dulwich Hamlet, with Steve Browne arriving as Assistant Manager and Gary Phillips retained in a coaching role. Edwards embarked on a chaotic recruitment drive, with players being signed almost every week. One day in early August saw an astonishing nine players arrive at the Recreation Ground, although, excitement amongst the supporters was tinged with concern. Unfortunately those suspicions began to bear fruit, and no sooner had the fresh intake of personnel stepped onto the training pitch, than Edwards and his Assistant Browne left the club just six days prior to the commencement of the new season.

Former boxer Edwards claimed afterwards, "We put together a decent side in the time we were there but Mr Woodward didn't share that view and players were signed behind our backs. We were forced to release some of our signings and 14 of the 21-man squad we had for a friendly at Margate were gone by the next week."

Therefore, Phillips returned to his familiar role as Caretaker Manager whilst Alan Lewer, Jimmy Quinn's Assistant during his time at the Abbey, was drafted in to help with coaching. An unenviable task lay ahead for the two men, not least the job of shaping a side in less than one week. At the last count an astonishing 27 players had allegedly 'signed' throughout the summer months, although, most maintain contracts were never signed whilst others have since left the club or been sent out on loan.

Amongst those who joined the Athletic rollercoaster were former United left-back Fred Murray, now temporarily with Luton, and midfielder Paul Terry, brother of John, who is currently with Rushden. Ex U's striker Lee McEvilly also joined the ranks but is yet to make an appearance due to injury, with the United links further enhanced by the arrival of defender Gavin Hoyte.

As well as McEvilly and Hoyte, a number of new players have started to settle at the Recreation Ground, including defenders Jack Obersteller, Luton loanee George Beavan, Craig Braham Barrett and experience in the guise of Ronnie Bull, Cameron Mawer and Anwar Uddin. Young goalkeepers Lee Butcher and Preston Edwards have been sharing goalkeeping duties. The only surviving member of the back line is former Chelsea youth Kenny Davis.

In midfield Adriano Rigolioso left one troubled club for another when he joined from Forest Green Rovers, as did wily old campaigner Paulo Vernazza who left relegated Woking. The head-count of ex-League players grew with Glenn Poole, promoted with Brentford last season, and former QPR man Richard Graham. The midfield ranks would not be complete without an ex-United employee, so Sam Cutler signed from Weymouth to keep the others company. Youngsters Tom Harvey and Daryl Robson were also snapped up from the West Ham Academy and Bray Wanderers respectively, duly adding youthfulness to the side.

In the striking department Daniel Charge moved from Dagenham & Redbridge in search of first team football, as did Dulwich Hamlet's Charlie Taylor, whilst Petar Rnkovic has moved from the Norwegian lower leagues for a taste of the English game. The forward contingent was completed by the signature of Jack Jeffrey, another with United links, to accompany McEvilly.

The unsettling changes in personnel at Grays are underlined by the fact that, of the sixteen on duty against United in late February of last season, just three players remain at the club.

However, the soap opera does not end there. Early September saw Mick Woodward, who stood down as Chairman in May, relinquish his role as Chief Executive. This allowed a new broom to sweep through the club and, although Woodward has retained his shares, former West Ham midfielder John Moncur now resides as Chairman.

Within days the club announced that the search for yet another new Manager had begun, with the loyal Gary Phillips placed on gardening leave along with coaches John Yems and Alan Lewer, despite all three applying for the job. Ex-Tottenham legend Peter Shreeves temporarily took control of first team affairs, and one week later it was announced that Julian Dicks, Moncur's team mate from their West Ham days, was to be installed as the club's new Manager. Shreeves has been retained as Director of Football.

Grays fans will be praying that their club now stays in the headlines for the right reasons, with a period of stability managing to consign the shenanigans of the past two years to the history books.

This season proceedings on the pitch have been overshadowed greatly by off field matters, but players and fans alike will have been glad to see their season commence. Nevertheless, they were made to wait a little longer than expected due to Chester, their opponents in the season opener, experiencing troubles of their own. With an FA investigation hanging over them City were forced to postpone, leaving Grays to finally kick-off their campaign away at Histon.

A solid display saw them return to Essex with a point from their 0-0 stalemate with the Stutes and, although, they still search for a first away win, useful draws have been gleaned from the trips to Crawley and Stevenage. A rollercoaster encounter at Rushden saw them lose by the odd goal in nine, surprise package Tamworth recorded a 2-1 victory, whilst the aforementioned defeat at Forest Green last Saturday deepened the gloom.

Home fans were treated to a 1-0 victory over Eastbourne, their first visitors to the New Recreation Ground, thanks to a Richard Graham strike, but this has proved their only success of the season to date. AFC Wimbledon pressured the defence into conceding four goals, with both Kidderminster and Altrincham recording three goals apiece. Therefore, a 1-1 draw with Mansfield has proved the only bright spot of late. Joint top scorers for the Blues are Daniel Charge and Kenny Davis.

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