Eastbourne Borough have decided to issue a damning statement on the sacking Tommy Widdrington and his assistant Hugo Langton.
Eastbourne are currently bottom of the National League South, with 25 points from 33 games played, 5 points from safety, but teams around the drop have some games in hand.
It has also been revealed by the board of directors that planning has begun for a ‘transition to part-time.’
Eastbourne Borough has limited who can comment on their social media posts announcing the decision.
š Club Statement from the #EBFC Board of Directorshttps://t.co/wy9WrzfaKN
ā Eastbourne Borough FC (@ebfc_official) February 18, 2026
CLUB STATEMENT:
The Board acknowledges that recent results, one win in eight, and a number of performances have been below the standards expected at this football club.
We are disappointed with the current situation and recognise the seriousness of our league position. As a result, we have decided to part company with Tommy Widdrington and Hugo Langton.
With 13 matches remaining, we will continue to push for safety. That fight is not over. However, it would be negligent not to prepare responsibly for every eventuality. We know how difficult it is to recover from relegation, and the scale of the investment ā financially, emotionally and strategically ā that has brought us to this level, should have delivered a better outcome.
Tommy was provided with the resources he requested. Injuries have undoubtedly disrupted momentum, but difficult circumstances are part of football at this level, particularly when operating under sustained pressure.
The players fought until the 100th minute last night and their effort cannot be questioned. But effort alone is not enough. With 13 games remaining, we must act decisively and in the long-term interests of the club.
Planning has now begun for all scenarios, including the potential transition to part-time football and building a squad capable of competing for promotion should that be required. Our responsibility is to protect the stability, sustainability and competitive future of this club.
We are aware of the reaction after recent fixtures.
There will be no further comment at this time.
The story will continue
Interviewer: “Well, Hugo, we’re shrouded in darkness here after a result that wasn’t quite light, but a game that we looked well into up until a red card that really changed things.”
Hugo: “Yeah. We felt that the first yellow card that will picked up wasn’t didn’t even think it was a foul but second one yeah that was a yellow card but, look, it’s I thought it was a pretty poor game of football and that’s no disrespect to either team is that’s just the way that the pitches I suppose I thought it was pretty low quality but with 10 men, I thought we looked the team more attacking okay yeah they caught was on the count and they’ve hit the post yet. No problem. All right.
“But you know we on another day we could maybe come away with a point on that. So I don’t think we can fault the the 10 lads that certainly played the probably 45 minutes really in all wasn’t it?
“Because of the 9 minutes injury time and they keep us made a couple of really really good saves late on. So can’t fault them for that. Just disappointed to concede the goal that we did especially two minutes after we gone down to 10.
“But like I said, listen, when that happens, the floodgates can open. But it didn’t. I think we still sort of tried to do our best defending, put bodies on the line, and but look, it is what it is. On another day, we might leave it a point, but unfortunately, we haven’t today.
Interviewer: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but the way I see it, I think when you get caught in a relegation battle or whatever you want to call it, there’s a lot of pressure on the lads week in week out. When we got that red card, the situation turns to one where we’re expected to lose. I think the game opened up. The players played with a bit more freedom maybe as well. We looked like we could really score a few goals.”
Hugo: “Well, I think we made we made sure we used our bench tonight. You know, I thought young Kingsley caused him some problems when he came on and you know, that that was great for him. He’s a young lad that’s is trying to learn his way through through the game, you know, cuz he’s jumped two or three levels from one club to this club and uh you know, he’s been training well and I think he deserves a pat on the back.
“But yeah, to answer your question, yeah, it goes back to what I just said. I don’t think we can fault the effort from the lads.
“Yeah, being whether you’re chasing a league title, whether you’re trying to fight your way out of a relegation, scrap at the under the table.
“Yeah, they bring different pressures and I don’t think we’ve felt that pressure tonight when we went down to 10.
“I think it’s it’s the lads understand uh the situation that we find currently find ourselves in and but you know there’s still there’s still enough time so we’re not despondent is the words you know we’ll be back in on Thursday morning and we’ll do our we’ll do our work and prepare ourselves for a home game against well then.
Interviewer: “Is there any other message you want to send for the fans who made the trip today.”
Hugo: “Of course you know they again you know it’s a cold Tuesday night u Maybe some people think, “Oh, it’s a game on or off.” Don’t know. But they still get in their car. They get on the bus and they they come here and uh you know, we thank them for it.
“And I’m sure that they will have gone back into their car tonight going, “Would you know what? Those lads, those 10 lads with the subs as well, that they they look as though that they’re they’re up for a scrap.” And and that’s exactly what it is. We’re in a scrap.
“And sometimes it’s it’s not going to be pretty. But when you’re in that, you know, in that sort of situation, sometimes you got to roll your sleeves up and you got to start throwing punches and be a little bit more ugly. And that’s that’s something that maybe that we got to do.”
Fans reacted after Eastbourne Borough issue a damning statement on sacking Tommy Widdrington and his assistant…
@JackAtfc: You canāt have Coleman lads
@CharlieATFC: Not sure how you can go from winning the fa trophy infront of 18,000 fans who adored you to sacked from Eastbourne within 9 months but there you go.
@NewquayClubshop: What a terrible statement from @ebfc_official. No class whatsoever. No thanks for your hard work, commitment and trying for our club. Just bitterness oozing from every word.
@calzb88: Grass isnāt always greener š¬
@Joseph_Oakman19: Canāt believe Eastbourne is bottom of the league, has a good reputation like St Albans for being playoff chasersā¦
@WFan1963: Adam leaving them in the summer last year was absolutely devastating for them. They weren’t exceptional in a pure footballing sense, but they did the basics so well under him, and genuinely looked so solid. This season that balance has completely gone.
@Joseph_Oakman19: Eastbourne last season was so good , scoring goals for fun but getting playoffs in the Enterprise South and playing them is always difficult.
@MikeKing14_: āSuccess is driven by beliefā Sounds like those higher up have stopped believing. So much money on players and staff completely wasted, leading them towards the Isthmian. Nightmare to get out of, not unknown to go down againā¦ 3 Eastbourne clubs in the same league in 27/28? š
@EBFCbobbie: Some statement this. Club is a mess
@DarranPearce: Leaves Aldershot and they massively improved for the change of manager and then gets sacked after a handful of months at Eastbourne with them one off the bottom
@nonleaguesouths: Quite the damming statement that. Somewhat surprised heās gone as they were poor before him and not exactly worse with him. The damage was done before he arrived with a squad lacking in experience for the league. Struggling to think of who could turn things around for them!
Jay Taylor: The manager is not the problem. Those in the board at the top who make the decision are. Only so many times you can polish a turd. We are the laughing stock of the whole of sussex and even the league. Please for the love of God, get this appointment right as its becoming desperate now.
Levi Sharrod-Scott: What a shambles, a bunch of idiots have ruined this club. Relegation, back to part time, many jobs lost, many unhappy fans, killed the community vibe, doubled the prices, nice one guys, great job your all doing š
Andy Smithson: Itās got to be a humbling day when your mantra is success is driven by belief and evaluating the work āon the menās teamā has gone considerable backwards with a lot of money thrown at it. The main decision makers need to have a real self-evaluate here. 3 out of the 4 managers theyāve picked havenāt been right and theyāve tried to mask it all with arrogance that weāll be alright š¤·. For the rest of the season pray for a miracle or accept your fate and give it all for next season to get back quickly!
Matt Neumann: Expected this but not today, maybe the day we were confirmed relegated. Gives us PLENTY of time to do the research and get the right staff in now, both playing and coaching.
Kev Powney: More managers than points at this rate. I hope there is a plan in place regarding getting someone in to acclimatise for next season in the Isthmian so that we once again are not dithering on day one of the season. However i rather think this is more about getting the dissenting supporters on side and a bit of a smoke screen. The problems really originated with the removal of Danny Bloor and his staff who were light years ahead of the circus we have endured since then. Years of hard work were undone by somone who thought he understood how football clubs were run. It has been an ego trip and no amount of tik tok videos can mask the reality of what the club has become. Once again there will be a new manager and once again he will be the best thing since sliced bread. Just look up all the comments on this group when beard and later grey were appointed. I have and it is rather enlightening as to how the hype was swallowed.
From this to that in under a year is quite some doing https://t.co/GbbueBl0Ul pic.twitter.com/Q8XUqCOieU
ā Lewis (@Lewis1498506) February 18, 2026
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