ALTRINCHAM manager Graham Heathcote has written off £10,000 in back wages to help the UniBond Premier club achieve financial stability.

The money was owed to Heathcote from his time as assistant to former manager Bernard Taylor. "We haven't got the money, so I said let's forget it," said the Alty boss. "You can't say you love a football club then wait for the money."

Heathcote, who has been with the club for 30 years in four spells as player, coach and manager, admitted that the Cheshire side were still battling the cash crisis that followed the departure of main shareholder and manager John King five years ago.

"We’re trying to win something far bigger than trophies - the survival of this football club," he added.

"The club has had the best 12 months financially since 1995-96 as we've worked within our budget. But there will be still be problems ahead as the board tries to deal with a financial situation not of its making."

"We've worked 24 hours a day to keep this club afloat. Now we have a board that is open and honest and won't spend a penny more than we have earned. I hope my little bit will help."

Heathcote's lead has been followed by past and present members of the Altrincham board. Director Graham Rowley has asked that a loan to the club now be treated as a donation and former member Dave Tracy has also written off money owed to him.

Manager of the year? Yeovil's Gary Johnson perhaps? John Coleman at Accrington maybe? Or Darron Gee of Tamworth and Terry Brown at Aldershot.

They've all done fantastic jobs - as have dozens of others throughout the Pyramid. But right now our vote goes to Altrincham's Graham Heathcote (see above).

We hear of selfless acts on a weekly basis in the Non-League game. Here we are talking about hard cash and plenty of it.

No doubt Graham will get his reward each time he looks across the pitch and sees the pleasure of the players and the excitement of the fans. Let's hope its £10,000-worth. We suspect it will be.

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