Stratford can now bloom – Flowers

By Jon Couch

Tim Flowers

TIM FLOWERS says he stepped down as Stratford Town boss to help the club plan a long-term managerial strategy.

The 55-year-old former England goalkeeper took over the reigns at Knights Lane in November and has led the Bards into a comfortable mid-table position.

Now, with seven games of the season to go – and the club too far behind to launch a play-off push – Flowers has stepped aside to allow his successor time to prepare for the new campaign.

“I came in to help in November with a brief from the club and with eight games to go this season it looks like were set for our status in the division,”

the former Blackburn and Southampton keeper said of his decision on Thursday.

“I thought it was a good time for someone to come in and start preparing for next season.

“I leave friends with Jed [chairman McCrory]. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and he’s doing a great job here.

“I wish the club, and everyone involved with it all the best going forward and I’ll have my eye on results and I hope everything goes well.”

McCrory added: “I’d had a few discussions with Tim about the rest of the season. He’d indicated that he had some other projects that he was keen to work on and we amicably decided that for both parties it was a good time to move on.

“I’d like to thank Tim for his efforts during his time with us, he’ll be welcome back anytime to the Arden Garages Stadium and we wish him good luck in the future.”

Flowers began his managerial career with a two-year reign at Stafford Rangers before a caretaker role at Northampton Town led him to his most notable job yet, in charge of Solihull Moors in 2018, taking them to the Conference play-offs.

His spell in charge of Macclesfield Town lasted just 18 days before the club was wound up and Flowers took over at Barnet where he was axed after just three months, losing 11 of his 12 matches in charge.