I feel confident that Graham and the Board already have the situation in hand with a few replacement candidates in mind.
Which is just as well as I can’t think of many suitable candidates for what could now be a tricky job, given it’s four down and most other club seem to have strengthened.
Dempsey is one who springs to mind. Can’t think of any other tried and trusted gaffers who are both available and could work with the budget.
I hope your right RD, shocked to lose Jon who was very approachable and got the club I think a good man in my book but pre season has been awful and signings poor.
Were the board right, well we won’t know till we see his successor and his performance!
However good luck to Jon and Steve for the future. UTA
This time last year we had just played a strong Salford side and won 5-4 after a superb display of attacking football.
All looked so promising then and the future seemed bright. However a poor spell mid - season was disappointing.
Don’t understand why pre season was so dire and signings underwhelming.
Such a shame after so much anticipation.
Good luck Jon for the future.
I think it’s a fair decision given the pattern that both seasons followed. We were poor until Christmas, before derby wins fired us on from January onwards - but ultimately leaving ourselves with too much to do.
Jon did a solid, if unspectacular job, but the recruitment this summer has been underwhelming - it’s hard to imagine us getting off to a flying start and bucking the trend.
However, why the decision has been made 11 days before the season starts is baffling. Lots of pressure on making the right appointment now, fingers crossed somebody well-connected and ready for a potential dog fight is available (especially for £12 a pop!).
Plenty of Step 5 Managers with the potential to do well. However a lot of those have been involved in a managerial merry-go-round and are untested at their new clubs.
Of course that is always assuming they could step up, have the contacts and could do the job we need which is right now avoiding being stuck battling in the bottom six.
A lot of money and ambition knocking around the NPL West, not least moneybags Hednesford, so it could be a bit of a scramble for a few clubs.
My out of the box suggestion would be Barnes at Vics. Before anyone rubbishes me, he took them on a winning run toward the end of the season.
If he’d taken charge earlier hadn’t been for Winsford’s dodgy pitch they might well have made the play offs. He would be a risk, but I think he knows his way around the nonleague scene.
A side issue to this, Jon and Steve had already been sponsored for the season so money will have been paid to the club for this by their respective sponsors.
Can I confirm that just Jon & Steve have left and we’ve hung on to the rest of the backroom team.
My understanding is just Jon and Steve have left the club. Training tonight will be interesting led by Ben, Mike and Nigel hopefully and see where we go from there. UTA
Andrew Simpson is reporting that a further statement regarding the managerial vacancy is expected today.
His understanding is that Ben Harrison is likely to be in caretaker charge for the start of the new season assisted by Mike Alcock and Paul Houghton.