Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott was verbally attacked during the 7-2 win over Teversal on Tuesday night
Craig Elliott has hit back at his critics who claim his move to Shaw Lane Aquaforce was motivated by financial gain, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Elliott was confronted and verbally abused by a spectator during the first half of Aquaforce’s 7-2 win over Teversal on Tuesday and the incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The Shaw Lane boss claims he has received some stinging criticism since his shock decision to leave Ossett Town and drop two divisions to take charge at the Toolstation NCEL Division One promotion-chasers.
Elliott says he has never been paid at the clubs he has managed and admits he has been “hurt” and disappointed by the behaviour of a small minority of people.
“I’ve taken a lot of stick and it has been hard to take,” he said.
“People have been saying that I had left Ossett for money and I’ve had to bite my lip.
“I do it for the love of the game and I’ve never taken a penny from any of the other clubs I’ve been the manager of. I’ve not been paid at Glasshoughton, Ossett Town and now Shaw Lane.
I do it all on a voluntary basis and purely for the enjoyment and I have been hurt by the comments I have seen on Twitter and Facebook.
“I even got heckled at the game on Tuesday night.
“An old bloke came up to the dugout and started having a right go. I’ve no idea what club he is from, but he came up saying it was rubbish what I said about taking Ossett as far as I could and said ‘you’re filling your pockets’.
“He kept going on and he clearly doesn’t know me. It is embarrassing and when my wife and kids are there, it is not nice because they know I don’t do it for the money.”
He added: “I have had a lot of positive phone calls and texts (about the move).
“I watch an endless amount of games, always paying to get into games at my own expense. I do it for the love of the game.
“Even if I wasn’t a manager I would probably still do because I have been watching games since I was eight-years-old when my dad (Ged) was manager of Pontefract Collieries.”
On-the-pitch, Elliott has a brilliant start to life as the Aquaforce manager. The Barnsley-based side have won both games he has taken charge of – winning 3-1 at Louth Town and then the midweek victory over ten-man Teversal.
Elliott is delighted with his first two weeks at the third-placed club and admits he is disappointed they have no game at the weekend.
“It wasn’t easy (on Tuesday night) and both games on 60 minutes could have gone either way,” he said.
“But, we showed power and control and that we have a lot of firepower.
“Both games were tight, but on Tuesday for the last 20 minutes we were well in control.
“We have done pretty well and you can’t ask more. It is just a shame we haven’t a game on Saturday.
“It is a massive blow because you want a bit of rhythm, but we’ll look forward to the game on Tuesday.”
Shaw Lane are next in action on Tuesday night when they host Knaresborough Town.