Akers - This has been my toughest year

Vic Akers admits that his final year in management has been his most difficult.

When the current campaign ends, the Arsenal Ladies manager will step aside after 22 years at the helm and at least 29 major honours in the bag.

The smart money is on Akers taking that tally into the 30s before he says goodbye but, for the 62-year-old, success this season will come at a price.

The campaign started ominously with the departure of Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante to Chelsea and now Akers has lost two more stars with Karen Carney set to join Chicago Red Stars in the new American League while Julie Fleeting has fallen pregnant. The departures may not end there with Kelly Smith and Alex Scott also coveted by teams in the United States.

It has been a turbulent time for Arsenal Ladies but Akers is backing his players to end a difficult season on a high note with a domestic treble still within reach.

"This has probably been the hardest year that I’ve had, with all the speculation about comings and goings to the American league, and the discussions about the new set-up in this country," said Akers.

"At the moment, it looks as if we won’t lose more than one or two of our players. Karen Carney has told me that she will be going over to the US for the experience – she’s young, and we will leave the door ajar for her to return here. She has been a great player for us, and one of my best signings – we wish her well.

“In the next two weeks we should know more about the futures of Kelly Smith and Alex Scott, who are the other two players considering approaches from across the Atlantic – we’re trying our hardest to keep them and hope for some positive news soon.

"We’ll be missing Julie Fleeting for the season from now onwards but we congratulate her and wish her all the best – hopefully she’ll have a good pregnancy and be right to return for us down the line.

"But I have to praise my players for their work so far this season – some fantastic football has been played in difficult circumstances and I can only thank them for their efforts. If we can win the domestic trophies it would be an outstanding achievement given what has happened of late.

“We have made some great signings over the last year or so, young players who will be big, big players for this football club in future, and with a core of experienced heads in there too the squad is looking well-balanced."

This interview first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme. You can subscribe to the Matchday Programme by calling 08700 20 20 20.

[Wednesday, January 07, 2009]

Print this page Email to a friend