Ryan Walmsley reports on the managerial merry-go-round…
Welling United have sacked manager Jody Brown just nine games into his reign at Park View Road.
Brown’s spell in charge of the Wings yielded just a solitary point from a possible 27, and with the last two defeats coming against Nuneaton and Aldershot – sides who are both battling relegation – Welling slid to 20th in the Conference Premier following their seventh consecutive loss.
Questionable loan dealings coupled with the recruitment of sub-standard replacements in January made Brown’s position untenable with both the fans and the board.
The former Heybridge Swifts and Grays Athletic boss had only taken charge of Welling in mid-December following Jamie Day’s departure to local rivals Ebbsfleet United.
Day’s four-year-tenure saw the Wings climb out of the Conference South and into non-league’s top tier, before the south-east London club cemented themselves comfortably in mid-table last season.
In a statement on their club website, Welling United said: “After a run of nine matches which has seen the club take just one point, the board felt that they had to act immediately in the best interests of the club’s short-term aim of avoiding relegation. The board would like to place on record their thanks to Jody and his coaching staff for their efforts in the past two months.”
Long-serving Wings defender Loui Fazakerley will take over as caretaker player-manager at Park View Road – most likely until the end of the season – and his first game in charge will be the televised fixture at home to Altrincham on Sunday.