DK head coach leaves Heathbrook on a low
4:57pm Thursday 20th December 2007
DUDLEY Kingswinford's despairing season went from bad to worse on Saturday, firstly discovering head coach Mark Wilson had resigned before letting a 19-0 lead against Kenilworth slip through their grasp as they suffered yet another defeat.
Wilson announced his decision to call it a day before kick off in the Heathbrook fixture and it seemed like the players were going to send the long-serving coach off on a high after surging into a huge lead but a second half capitulation allowed the visitors to get back into the clash and claim a 23-22 victory.
Press officer Peter Stinton was not surprised by Wilson's decision after seeing his side slip to the bottom of Midlands Division One with only one win out of their opening 12 fixtures this season.
Stinton, however,hopes supporters remember Wilson for his excellent overall record at DK.
He said: "It was not a surprise Mark went with the way this season has gone but he hasn't been helped by an horrendous injury list which has seen us use 55 players this season compared to only 34 for the whole of the last campaign.
"It is well worth reflecting on Mark's tremendous overall record of success as DK coach.
"In his first spell at Heathbrook covering five seasons from 1997-2002 DK won Midlands Two in 1997-8, finished third in Midlands One in 1998-9, won Midlands One in 1999-2000 and reached the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham in the same year.
"In their first season in National Three North DK finished a creditable sixth, 2000-2001 and then, incredibly, runners up in 2001-2, losing the playoff for promotion to National Two at Launceston.
"He returned to DK for the 2006-7 season in which DK finished runners up in Midlands One, narrowly losing the playoff to Beverley for a quick return to National Three North.
"This is a quite staggering record of achievement, for which Mark can be rightly proud.
"We wish him well."
DK will now take a break for Christmas before attempting to come back reinvogorated as they aim to pull off an improbable relegation escape starting with an away trip to Longton on Saturday January 5, although it is unclear whether a new coach will be in place by then.
Stinton added: "This season has been a disaster but hopefully a new year will bring new hope."