Boxing champ Curtis Woodhouse dealt knockout blow after leaving Gainsborough Trinity

By Jon Couch 

BOXING champ-cum-manager Curtis Woodhouse has been dealt a knockout blow after parting company with Gainsborough Trinity due to financial constraints.

Woodhouse, the former British light-welter weight champion boxer, led Trinity into the top ten of the Pitching In NPL Premier Division before the season at Steps 3-6 was finally curtailed this week.

But after Trinity chairman Richard Kane explained how financial uncertainty would affect available budget and expectations for next year, the pair touched gloves to amicably end Woodhouse’s 16-month tenure at The Northolme.

“Personally, my business has  been hit financially, due to the coronavirus outbreak, like so many other businesses,” Kane said in a club statement.

“There simply put, is just not a bottomless pit of money that I can put into the club. As well as the first team, we are also still establishing firm foundations within the community, at youth levels.

Aspirations

“As a board of directors, we are committed to the long term sustainability of the football club and as such are grateful that Curtis was able to see the hurdles we need to  overcome to sustain football in Gainsborough and support that, even though our aspirations in the short term don’t quite marry up.”

Woodhouse played the majority of his 350 senior appearances in the Football League as a defender for the likes of Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Hull City before going into part-time management.

He started off in charge of Sheffield FC in 2012 –while doubling up as a professional boxer – and went on to take charge of Goole, Hull United, Bridlington Town and Tadcaster

Albion before joining Trinity in October 2019.

The 40-year-old, dubbed the Driffield Destroyer, commented: “I’d like to thank Gainsborough Trinity for my time at the club as manager, it’s a time I’ll  look back on with fond memories.

“Unfortunately with the chaos surrounding Covid 19 and the effects it’s had on football, it’s cut short my time with the club.

“I’m disappointed I couldn’t stay to finish the job of getting the club promoted but sometimes circumstances get in the way.

“It’s now the time for me to pursue other managerial opportunities and continue with my journey up the footballing pyramid but I leave wishing everybody involved with the football club nothing but the best.”