Bostik League South Division Promotion challengers, Greenwich Borough face Herne Bay on Saturday at the DGS Stadium in Eltham.

It has been a tumultuous seven days for Borough. Last week, First Team Manager Gary Alexander and his assistant John Miller left the club for financial reasons. Also departing were released captain Mark Phillips and veteran striker Charlie MacDonald.

Cray Wanderers were the immediate beneficiaries as MacDonald made a two goal debut for them in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over VCD Athletic on Wednesday. Alexander retrieved his playing boots and had a run out with Chatham Town but has now taken on the First Team Coach role at Ashford United. Their departures have since been followed by Tom Beere also leaving the Cannons.

Despite the upheaval, Greenwich still recorded a brilliant 5-2 win at Hastings United last Saturday under caretaker management. Jack Barham put the the Cannons ahead in the first minute before Daniel Ajakaiye levelled before Davide Rodari put Hastings ahead.

Barham levelled on the half hour before Travis Gregory put Greenwich ahead in first half injury time. Once Beere had put Greenwich ahead they didn’t look back and Chinedu McKenzie put the cherry on the cake by scoring a fifth with just under twenty minutes remaining.

Alexander’s replacement Paul Barnes has now been appointed having resigned his First Team Coach role at Ashford United, vacating the post now taken by Alexander. The former Welling United and Margate Coach will take his place in the dug-out following one training session with his team.

Visitors Herne Bay have enjoyed calm waters in comparison. They lie in fifteenth place with eleven wins and thirteen defeats in their twenty seven league games. Their last outing was a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of third placed Corinthian Casuals. They were three down after thirty minutes so were never really in the game.

That followed a three nil home defeat at the hands of Hastings United so they will be looking to bounce back. Barnes has been in football long enough to know of the danger of taking anything for granted and will be aware of The Bay’s excellent 2-0 victory at Carshalton Athletic last month.

They expect to include Ben Gorham in their squad following his return from Sittingbourne.

Last season’s corresponding fixture was a tight affair. Michael Power put the Cannons ahead in the fifteenth minute but they were made to fight and they didn’t add a second until the final kick of the match when Mohammed Elsa slotted beyond Jack Delo.