‘Stabbed in back’ claim

Apr 12 2008 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post

PETER DAVENPORT has revealed his shock at being sacked by Southport and said: “I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back.”

The 47-year-old’s 15-month reign at Haig Avenue was ended following last Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Solihull Moors and ex-player Gary Brabin was appointed as successor.

His departure came as a surprise as Southport are two points off the play-offs with five games to go and last week they lifted the Lancashire Challenge Trophy.

“I just can’t understand the timing of the decision,” he said.

“We had always talked about a five-year plan and developing for the future. We’ve had one or two dodgy results recently but that’s the result of having a young team. The talent is there but they are inexperienced.

“We were still in a decent position and I was confident of leading the club into the play-offs and winning promotion. The daft thing is in recent months I turned down a job at another Blue Square North club and also turned down an interview at a League Two club because I was happy at Southport.”

Davenport hit back at rumours there had been a dressing room rift. “The thing that really hurts is that the chief executive Haydn Preece was phoning my players asking if there were problems,” he said.

“Where’s the evidence of that? The fact is there’s not any. Haydn seems to have been one of the main movers behind this and I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back by someone I thought was one of my best friends.”

Chief executive Preece said: “I certainly didn’t want Peter to leave but the statistic that we haven’t won at home in the league in 2008 tells its own story.”

Southport entertain champions Kettering today.