Below is the second extract from the Grimsby Town Matchday programme. It was headed Paul Fairclough stands down.
It has been a traumatic week in the history of Barnet FC.
A 3-0 defeat by Aldershot Town at Underhill on Boxing Day brought a noisy crowd reaction to 13 games without a win for the Bees.
One home victory this season underlines a large part of the problem and Paul Fairclough realistically responded post-match by saying: "It just hasn't happened on the pitch".
Paul was asked about a three goal defeat. "Was 3-0 a fair reflection? No. It should have been more than that. It was the worst we have played since I have been here", he replied.
He looked ahead to 2009 and said: "We have a massive, massive fight on our hands. We need at least half of the 72 points now on offer just to survive. It is a reality."
At that Paul went upstairs to the board room and reached agreement to stand down after the game at AFC Bournemouth. He wanted to stay on for that game and the photo below shows his emotion at the final whistle as the players took the applause.
A statement was issued by the club the following day, after Paul had told Ian Hendon, the staff and the players of his decision.
Paul Fairclough will stand down as manager of Barnet Football Club immediately after the fixture at Bournemouth tomorrow, just short of five years since he took over in March 2004. Ian Hendon will be in charge from Monday.
Paul has been appointed a director of the club and, with effect from next week, will become the Chief Executive of Barnet Sports Development encompassing the new academy and new state-of-the-arts training facilities at the 44-acre Prince Edward development at Canons Park due to be completed next close season. He will continue with his role as manager of the England C team.
The announcement, originally due to be made later this season, has been brought forward at his request. He has decided to stand down now to enable a new manager to be appointed and bring in a couple of new faces in the January transfer window.
Fairclough, who will help in the search for his successor, said: "The most important issue during this difficult period is the success of the team. Having worked equally as hard this season, if not harder, it just has not happened on the pitch. Consequently, if my standing down helps thrust the team then it will be worthwhile. In football it is ultimately the manager who pays the price for poor results. My chairman has been supportive but I will not allow him to suffer on my behalf any longer. I am of course regretful and also sad that my reign as manager has come to a premature end.
I have loved every second of my time as manager and look forward to my new role in helping the club to grow. I am very grateful for all the encouragement from supporters that I have received during my time and in particular during this difficult period. My players and staff, I believe, have given me their best efforts. Finally, my greatest thanks are reserved for my three girls, Sharon, Laura and Becky, my Mum and my son-in-law Jon; they have laughed and cried with me all the way."
Paul Fairclough's record as Barnet manager - the Bees were his first League club - was 68 wins and 39 draws in 162 games ... a win ratio of nearly 42 per cent.
The 58-year-old Liverpool-born Fairclough will always be remembered at Underhill for guiding the club back into The Football League in his first full season in charge. Another major achievement was to twice take the Bees to the 4th Round of The FA Cup for the first time in their history.
When Martin Allen and his staff left Underhill in March 2004 chairman Tony Kleanthous picked up the phone and invited Paul Fairclough to become the caretaker manager. With the backing of senior players Ian Hendon and Danny Maddix, Fairclough took the Bees to the play-off semi-finals where, after winning 2-1 at home and losing 1-0 at Gay Meadow, they went out 5-3 on penalties. And of course to the title the following season.
Ian Hendon joined Barnet in 2003 from Peterborough United after spending time on loan at Underhill six months previously. Hendon was captain of the Barnet side that stormed the Conference to win the championship in style and earn Barnet a place back in The Football League.
He has played 139 games for the Bees, scoring 19 goals, and has worked alongside Fairclough from the day he took over at Forest Green Rovers as a senior player, the skipper and now assistant manager.
Hendon, who has a two year contract, took charge of team matters after the Bournemouth game and will work with club captain and goalkeeper coach Lee Harrison and newcomer player-coach Gary Breen.
"Everybody at the club gets a clean sheet from now", he said. "They will all have the chance to show me that they want to play for Barnet. I know these players ... I know their strengths and weaknesses. They will be told what they are so that we get off on the right footing.
"I am grateful for the chance to show my worth. I have always said that it is my ambition to manage a team - I just wasn't expecting this to happen when it did. Whether it is days, weeks or months, I will do my best ... if I feel that the team needs strengthening I will talk to the chairman."
Ian Hendon paid tribute to Paul Fairclough: "He's a lovely man with no malice in him, although we are chalk and cheese as personalities, that is not to say that we didn't get on. I learned a lot from him, particularly in getting messages across."
