Eaden stunned at Hednesford Town axe falls

The 46-year-old had only been in charge at Keys Park for four months but had led the Pitmen to mid-table security after fears of relegation from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier.

The former Birmingham City, Barnsley and Nottingham Forest player said he was told the club ‘wanted to go in a different direction’ following a brief budget-setting meeting after a training session on Tuesday.

“It came as a shock and total surprise,” said Eaden.

“I’d just gone into the budget meeting and was asked what I needed,” he told the Express & Star. “But I said that’s up to the club and the owner – they have to tell me what they can afford and then we’ll go from there.

“I’d spoken about my own wages but shortly after I was just told they were going in a different direction – that was it.”

Eaden stabilised Hednesford after the departure of Rob Smith and Larry Chambers to Halesowen Town and ended threats of relegation with six league victories, putting them in 12th spot and 10 points clear of the drop zone.

“We lost the first three games after I took over but afterwards but we started to turn it around,” he said. “I decided to clear a few out and get some of my own players in and it made a real difference.

“When I took over the points average was less than a point a game, that’s relegation form. Since I took over the points return has been play-off form.”

Eaden dded: “Some told me the football was better they’d seen in the last four or five years – I told them they must have seen some real rubbish then!

“Attendances were creeping up a bit and I was looking forward to planning for next season, it has come as a total shock.”

Assistant manager Gary Hayward will take control of first team affairs in the final two matches of the season.