Mason open to Terras return
By Derek Bish

Monday 15th March 2010

ANDY Mason would follow Ian Hutchinson back to Weymouth if asked, he has revealed to Echosport.

The 43-year-old had two spells as manager of the Terras at the start of the millennium and returned to assist Hutchinson when the Teesider took over in October 2009.

They were controversially sacked in January, less than a fortnight after verbally agreeing new contracts, but Weymouth chairman George Rolls is to meet with Hutchinson this week and ask him to return as manager of the beleaguered club.

“I told Hutch if he went back then I would go back if he wanted me to,” said Mason. “I’ve got no axe to grind, I just want what is best for the club and I have all along. It’s a shame where it is at the moment.”

Weymouth were beginning to turn things round and had gained eight points from their previous six games when Hutchinson and Mason were controversially dumped by Rolls just hours after the heaviest defeat the pair suffered during their time at the club – a 4-1 loss at home to high-flying Chelmsford City.

Following the decision to be shown the door on January 17, Mason admitted he had been left “perplexed” by Rolls’ sudden decision to remove the fans’ favourites.

At the time, he said: “Hutch and I put our heart and soul into the job and we’ve been kicked in the teeth, but that’s football sometimes.”

However, as much as Mason felt let down by that decision, he said he would return if asked.

“It’s down to George Rolls, he’s the man who calls the shots,” said Mason. “As he’s said before, he’s not afraid to make those tough decisions and will probably have to make them again. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Following Jerry Gill’s resignation as manager on Thursday – just 44 days after he took over from Hutchinson and Mason – Rolls revealed publicly for the first time that his decision to sack the popular duo was down to “non-footballing reasons”, not results.

In Friday’s Echosport, he added: “I will hold my hands up and realise I made a mistake in getting rid of Ian Hutchinson.”