‘Natural end’ for Nick Archer at St Albans City

Nick Archer said he felt his time at St Albans City came to “a natural end” – after his departure as chairman was confirmed by the club.

It brought to a close almost 10 years on the Saints board, first as a director, than as chairman.

Prior to that he had been chairman at Harpenden Town.

He is now heading to Vanarama National League South rivals Wealdstone as vice-chairman but he was quick to point out that he was not jumping ship.

“It wasn’t really a move,” he told the Herts Ad.

“My time at St Albans came to a natural end. The club has changed probably over the last 18 months to two years. The owners are taking it in a slightly different way.

“My time was always going to end at the end of last season, which was a tough one.

“I was thinking of retiring from football but then the opportunity at Wealdstone presented itself and I still felt I had something left in me.”

His role at Grosvenor Vale will see him have a particular focus of marketing and commercial activities.

And it comes as part of a shake-up behind the scenes, which will culminate in a new chairman, one with previous experience of taking a club “from the national league to the football league”, taking over after July 20.

Archer said: “The chairman to be at Wealdstone has plenty of ideas and said ‘we’ll have fun doing it’.

“I had probably stopped enjoying football. But I wanted another crack at another club and I grabbed this with both hands.

“There’s a new set-up and new board structure. There are some good football men on that board and a very experienced manager.

“It’s a strong structure to run a football club.”

Reflecting on his time with the Saints, Archer spoke with a hint of regret.

“The job was probably unfinished,” he admitted. “You need to take it forward on the football side and show there’s a real need for a new ground.

“A successful first team is the core of the whole club. The community initiatives etc, fit around that. But I enjoyed my time at St Albans.”