George Elokobi sorry for ‘offending fans’ in rant after Maidstone’s draw with Hampton & Richmond

George Elokobi sorry for ‘offending fans’ in a rant after Maidstone’s 0-0 draw with Hampton & Richmond in the National League South.

He said that he’d to stop players going over to supporters following the final whistle and said that those who snubbed his side after the goalless draw ‘aren’t true fans’.

But now, upon reflecting to what he said about the unhappy response he got from fans, he has now apologised, saying it was a heat in the moment thing.

Maidstone sit 12th after 3 games played, picking up 4 points, though it’s not the position fans want to see them while the playoff semi final defeat last season is still fresh in their mind.

For 2023/24, they finished 4th with 83 points from 46 games, but failed to reach the final, losing out to Worthing. Elokobi also guided Maidstone to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, defeat to Coventry.

🟡 Statement from George Elokobi following Tuesday’s match against Hampton & Richmond Borough.https://t.co/YOTEGQGOkg pic.twitter.com/av5zImHtsC

— Maidstone United (@maidstoneunited) August 22, 2024

In his interview, he said, per Kent Online: “The true Maidstone fans stood back and they applauded our players.

“But when our players come towards our fans to applaud them and they walk away, they’re not going to be getting that privilege any more from us. I’m going to take it away.

“I’ve created it and I will take it away and I let the fans know about it. The true fans that stood back and clapped our players, I truly respect them for that.

“But the ones that were walking away and turning their backs, they are not true Maidstone fans.

“I will stop our players going over until they start showing the respect our players give them.

“They need to reciprocate that, win, lose or draw.

“They have to respect our players.

“We’ve got a new set of players and is that the sort of image they’re painting towards them? I don’t think it’s fair on them.

“We are a new team, we’re gelling and I let the fans know about it.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve and I say it as it is.

“It’s all good staying back at full-time after all we did last season and the memories we created.

“We’re three games into the season and they think we should win the league now? Come on. It doesn’t work like that.

“It’s a good point against a good side.

“Hampton & Richmond played well and they deserved a point.

“The only thing lacking in our play was the finish and the end product.

“It’s by far the best we’ve defended our box in pre-season and into the season.

“From Saturday, when we couldn’t defend our box from restarts, I thought we were excellent in terms of being a unit, a team.

“The distances were right, we stopped them playing to their strengths and we were in control throughout.

“I was extremely proud that we kept a clean sheet and there were lots of combinations throughout the units.

“We moved the ball better than we did on Saturday and we got in the final third and there were lots of entries into their box.

“The only thing lacking was a finish. However, that’s going to come.

“That’s what teams do when they come here.

“I’m sure Alan Julian (Hampton manager) was pleased with the point.

“Like he said after the game, coming to the Gallagher and getting a point is a credit to him and his backroom staff and his team, and that’s what we’ve got to understand here.

“Teams are going to come here, they’re going to try and frustrate us and we need to find that cutting edge to ensure we can take three points but it’s a point in the right direction at this stage of the season.”

Statement from George Elokobi on his interview:

“From the day I arrived at this football club, I was warmly welcomed into the Maidstone United family and as a player and now a manager, it’s a relationship I hold dearly – one of mutual respect and appreciation, win, lose or draw.

“On Tuesday evening, after the Hampton game, I was disappointed with the negativity of some fans when we went over to thank you all.

“Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment, I let my frustrations get the better of me and I am truly sorry if I offended anyone with my interview.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve, always have, always will. It’s got me in trouble before but believe me I’ve learned from this experience.”

We know that the team is moving in the right direction @georgeelokobi the performance against a well organised Hampton side was a level above the previous game.

We are getting closer to where we want to be. We will back the team 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/DvjwUJNT5f

— Liam Morgan (@LiamPMorgan) August 22, 2024

Social media users reacted with George Elokobi sorry for ‘offending fans’ in a rant after Maidstone’s draw with Hampton & Richmond…

@justafan1m: We move on. This is football 🤝🖤💛

@stones72: well done george 👏

@zafarmirzo: Imaginary desire — happiness never to acquire.

@EthanSmith1717: Fair play to him. We’ve all let our emotions get the better of us at times and he could have very easily swept it under the carpet but he’s done the right thing.

@barnesy007: Well done George. The right thing to do and let’s hope the passion you show for success is replicated across the team as the season progresses

@charltondoris: Fair play, he said something regrettable in the heat of the moment, apologised, let’s move on now

@Gruntwill: Done the right thing George

@Gallagher_Guy_3: Fair play @georgeelokobi

@Davidjbond: Good to draw a line under it. Let’s move on and focus on Chippenham now

@elliott9kev: Full respect takes balls to come out mlike this and shows what it means to him we move on and 6 points over bank holiday !

@andymhunt3: Well said @georgeelokobi we all love this club, win, lose or draw. All the best for saturday #believe

@Stephen88609909: What’s done is done, let’s move on and get 3 points on Saturday 🖤💛

@Tier6: Grown up response from a big man. Disappointing all round on Tuesday. (Some) fans need to wise up. We’ve seen enough NLS to know start of season is always hit and miss. All parties need to have a word with themselves. Looks like George has got in first.

@CickSunt: Fantastic response tbf 👏🏻

@lxdxfxlx: He needs to stop having a go at the fans turning into an odd character man

@includesadrink: A monumental cup run cannot hide the fact that failure to get promotion last season was just that. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of a need for change?

@benstonesfc1: Emotions were high after Tuesday and yes things were said that maybe shouldn’t have but we’ve all been there in football. Managers are no different. Stick with the gaffer and the lads, it will come good 💪 Remember how long it took to kick start our season when we won the NLS

@JustinZS03: The team need to gel and then we will see results at the end of the day our brand of football is not the most exciting but with a few tweaks I can see us getting back on track but negativity is not going to help anything this early on in the season

@justafan1m:
I didn’t see what happened after the game but this has all been blown massively out of proportion it sounds like. George has a duty to protect his players as well as engage with the fans. It can be a tough balance especially when results don’t go the clubs way.

I’m sure all he was trying to do was:

1. Show the players (especially the new ones) that he’s got their back and;

2. Try and get the fans to show their passion even when results aren’t the best.

As he said, he wears his heart in his sleeve – you can see that if you just watch him in the dugouts every game! I don’t agree with what he said in that interview, well not all of it at least – but I can see the intention he always had.

This is football. Emotions run high. We make mistakes and people a rightfully offended. Then again…

This is football. We’re a family. We travel the country to watch this team play. Together. Win together. Lose together.

This happened. George has apologised. Now let’s move on and get behind the boys for Chippenham (A). See you there!

COYS 🖤💛