Non-League Paper Programme: Managerial merry-go-round clicks into overdrive

The week leading up to Halloween proved to be something of a horror show for Non-League bosses everywhere as the managerial merry-go-round clicked into overdrive.

As a result, it caused endless nightmares for us at NLP Towers as the news pages had to be constantly updated and, in the case of John Coleman’s Friday afternoon arrival at Aldershot Town, ripped up and rewritten completely.

We were perhaps given a sign of what was to come when Kettering Town announced the departure of Simon Hollyhead just minutes after their 4-0 defeat at Redditch United on Saturday, with the former assistant at Champions League side Malmö having resigned from his Poppies’ post at two days previous.

It’s fair to say it wasn’t a good week for Isthmian League bosses with a high percentage of departures coming in and around the M25.

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Quit

Club legend Drew Cooney left East Grinstead Town after four years in charge. Cooney made over 500 appearances for the Wasps before taking over the hotseat in 2021.

He quit after picking up just one win from his opening 11 games in charge of the Isthmian South East club.

League rivals Hastings United also made a change with former Whitehawk boss David Altendorff replacing Lee Carey in the U’s hotseat, while former England manager Peter Taylor stood down at Isthmian North side Canvey Island after five months in charge following the Gulls’ midweek defeat to Benfleet in the Essex Senior Cup.

Tilbury too have new joint-bosses with George Christou and Jack Toghli coming in for Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace, who left the Dockers by mutual consent.

Commitment

It was all change also at Lewes after it was announced that popular former boss Craig Nelson had returned to the Dripping Pan hotseat after six months away, replacing Bradley Pritchard.

Nelson steered the Rooks to their best league start in over a decade last season before being snapped up by Tonbridge Angels.

There’s no busier owner in English football right now than Bracknell Town’s Kayne Steinborn-Busse.

He is looking for his FIFTH manager in the space of just 17 league games after dispensing with former Wealdstone and Notts County assistant Matt Saunders.

Saunders had just one point and an FA Cup win over Tadley Calleva to show for his seven games in charge of the Robins – a tenure which will be remembered for releasing the club’s two longest serving players after questioning the commitment of the senior members of the squad.

Consistency

Perhaps the highest profile departure last week was that of Altrincham chief Phil Parkinson after eight years at Moss Lane.

The 44-year-old led the Robins to two promotions in three seasons, from the NPL Premier to the National League, and then a play-off campaign in 2023–24, where they finished fourth before falling to Bromley in the semi-finals.

However, after losing a plethora of key players in the summer, including the likes of Regan Linney, Justin Amaluzor and Alex Newby, the Robins have struggled to find the same consistency this season and Parkinson leaves after a seven-match unbeaten league run.

Altrincham will now be looking to appoint a new man in charge, much like league rivals Aldershot Town, who brought in John Coleman to replace Tommy Widdrington, who left a fortnight ago, and has since rejoined Eastbourne Borough.

Harsh perhaps on Alan Dowson, who took interim charge of team affairs for Saturday’s trip to Scunthorpe and told The NLP of his desire to make the most of his opportunity in the Shots hotseat.

Dowson, the former Woking, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Kingstonian boss, has now left the EBB Stadium and looking for his next challenge.

Resigned

At Step 5, Richard Brodie left Glossop North End after two years in charge of North West Counties League side and is now back playing with former club Skelmersdale United at the age of 38.

Dan Bailey quit as player/manager and coach of Combined Counties Premier North strugglers Virginia Water, Mark Scott resigned from South West Peninsula Premier East side Axminster Town after a 12^th successive defeat, and Clay Cross Town’s management team of Ian Cotton, his assistant Ian Birtley and player/coach Kieran Coupe joined United Counties Premier North rivals AFC Mansfield.

Aaannnndd breathe. Until the next instalment anyway. Happy Halloween everyone!

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