Gateshead part company with Lee Cattermole and issue support plea

National League basement club Gateshead have confirmed they have terminated the contracts of manager Lee Cattermole and assistant Martin Smith.

The decision comes just over 24 hours after a home defeat against Worthing ensured the Heed have lost nine of their first 11 games of the season and left them sitting eight points from safety in Non-League’s top tier.

Cattermole’s departure brings a dramatic end to what has been a deeply concerning week on and off the pitch at the International Stadium as key shareholder Mark Nellist’s decision to step away from the club with immediate effect raised fears over the Heed’s long-term future. Those fears were further raised on Thursday when players and staff failed to receive their wages for September and that situation remains unresolved as of Sunday evening.

However, it is on-field results and performances that have led to the decision to part company with Cattermole and Smith as the Heed confirmed the reasons behind their decision as club legend Ben Clark steps up to take caretaker charge once again.

Statement confirms reasons for Lee Cattermole’s Gateshead departure

A statement released on the club website on Sunday afternoon read: “Gateshead Football Club can confirm that the decision has been taken to terminate the contract of First-Team Manager, Lee Cattermole.

“The decision follows a series of poor results which have seen the club anchored to the foot of the Enterprise National League table. Assistant Manager, Martin Smith, will also leave the club with immediate effect. First Team Coach, Ben Clark, will assume the role of Caretaker Manager until further notice.

“Interim Chairman, Graham Wood said: ‘The club wishes to thank Lee and Martin for their efforts and wishes them both success in their future careers.’”

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Non-League news you need,subscribe to The Non-League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Gateshead issue plea for shareholder support

In a separate statement released just ten minutes after Cattermole’s exit was announced, Gateshead called for support from their shareholders to allow for additional time to seek fresh investment following Nellist’s decision to step down.

The local businessman, who has financially backed his hometown club over the last seven years, has ‘gifted’ his shares to Hartlepool-born, United States-based Stephen Paylor in a move that still requires approval from the new Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

However, Paylor has informed the club he is unable to provide funding and explained that interest from another party that had been keen to provide funding had ‘waned’ in recent days. The Heed now believe the decision to transfer shares to Paylor will now receive approval from the IFR and have now pleaded for support from their shareholders

‘The club is now appealing’

The statement read: “Since Mark Nellist announced his intention to withdraw his funding support from Gateshead Football Club, he has also sought to relinquish his majority ownership of the club.

“He has reached an agreement, subject to approval by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), to gift his shares to fellow Gateshead FC shareholder, American-based Stephen Paylor.

“Meanwhile, Paylor has indicated that he is unable to provide funding on his own and was relying on joint investment from a third party, whose initial strong interest appears to have waned.

“In the circumstances, it would appear unlikely that the share transfer from Nellist to Paylor will gain IFR approval. Meanwhile, the club’s players and staff remain unpaid. The club is now appealing to the shareholders to continue funding support, thereby giving time to secure fresh investment.”