Barrow manager Mark Cooper quits weeks after being handed an 8-game ban for a comment to female assistant referee last year.
The Cumbrian outfit have parted company with their boss after less than a season in charge at the League Two club having been defeated to rejuvenated relegation battlers Carlisle United on Saturday.
Cooper, 53, was appointed in May on a three-year deal, having previously managed Forest Green Rovers.
BREAKING: Mark Cooper has left his role as Manager of Barrow AFC by mutual consent.
Read more here now…#BarrowAFC
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) March 20, 2022
He departs with the Bluebirds who sit fourth from bottom after winning only once in their past nine league games, against bottom side Scunthorpe United.
Assistant manager Richard Dryden has also left the club, who are six points clear of the relegation zone with nine games remaining.
Barrow are yet to confirm who will take caretaker charge of the side for their next fixture at Leyton Orient next Saturday.
Cooper may have only won eight of the 37 league games he took charge for at Barrow, but he did guide the club to the FA Cup third round earlier this season after they knocked out League One Ipswich Town in a replay.
They took Championship Barnsley to extra time in the third round before losing 5-4 at Oakwell.
His five years in charge at Forest Green included the club’s first promotion to the English Football League in 2017.
In February, Mark Cooper was been given an eight-match touchline ban for a breach of FA Rule E3 and after it was proven he made reference to gender during an exchange with an assistant referee.
The incident took place during the club’s League Two fixture with Exeter on August 17, when Cooper was sent off in the latter stages by referee Andrew Kitchen for comments made to Helen Edwards.
Cooper denied the allegations but an independent Regulatory Commission found them to be proven and handed the 53-year-old an eight-game touchline ban, fined him £3,000 and ordered he attend a face-to-face education course.
An FA statement said: “It was alleged that the manager (Cooper) used abusive and/or insulting words in the 91st minute, which are contrary to FA Rule E3.1, and that these words constitute an ‘aggravated breach’, as defined in FA Rule E3.2 as they included a reference, whether express or implied, to gender.
“Mark Cooper denied these allegations but an independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found them to be proven and imposed his sanctions, which remain subject to appeal, after reviewing the available evidence. The written reasons for their decisions will be published in due course.”
CLUB STATEMENT:
Mark Cooper has today left his role as First Team Manager at Barrow AFC by mutual consent.
The Club can confirm that Assistant Manager Richard Dryden has also left The Dunes Hotel Stadium.
“After discussions on Saturday, it was ultimately decided that we would go our separate ways,” said Chairman Paul Hornby.
“We would like to thank both Mark and Richard for their efforts during their time at Barrow and wish them every success in the future.”
We will provide supporters with a further update in due course.
According to BetVictor, this is who are favourites to takeover…
Jim Bentley – 4/1
Pete Wild – 6/1
Paul Tisdale – 8/1
Rob Kelly – 8/1
John McGreal – 10/1
Neil Ardley – 10/1
Twitter users reacted as the Barrow manager quits after his 8-game ban for a comment to a female assistant referee…
@Jakey_Boyz: We all tried to tell you
@MnRainer: Is he moving into Women’s football?
@DeanHallbert: Spend his wages on a decent away end
@jack_taylor2303: better be another one lined up to keep us up
@FazOnTour: Around 2-3 months too late I’m afraid.
@Downing88: Good. Get someone in who understands football teams need to attack to score goals. Been poor going forward all season
@DanWalker1104: cheers for everything cooper onwards now let’s get edmo back in or someone who knows how to fight a relegation battle
@PaulBaggy45: Had to go only win recently is against the worst team in the league!! and we are currently 2nd worst team and only just beat them with 10!! should of walked v oldham even Salford games! thanks Mark for Barnsley away and other games good luck
@BRowlesy: Disappointing, the main reason I was planning on travelling to Barrow.
@MatthewDewey17: Well let’s just see if we get some new manager bounce. Like so many other clubs seem to get out of modern footballers. Over to the players now. Squad is good enough but have they got the fight 🤞
@TomCapper22: Couldn’t have happened to a nicer fella
@charliewalduck: Should never have got the job in the first place I’ve always disliked the guy. I do feel sorry for the owners they have backed him with a decent budget. The money the club has spent getting rid of managers tho is ridiculous. Get some football people in to recruit the next one
@pdsmith74: Was never a good appointment & what fans of his previous clubs said at the time has come to pass. Board has made a series of poor appointments since Evatt – only decent one was Kelly & they didn’t bring him in! Must get this one right, get the bounce then regroup in the summer.
@caldy003: seemed such a likeable bloke to
@bigdikky5: I’m not laughing…. Not at all!!! 😂 😆
@fabs2305: How does this fella Keep getting jobs
@Pfwoodyy: WANK MANGER 🛑
@CraigHollyhead: Got me thinking. With the exception of Scarr, none of the released players from last season have done anything .
@Tranon61: Mr Personality been sacked again !! Spiteful, bitter tosser.
@PhilShawshanks: Have a feeling that Barrow could drift back into non league if they’re not careful – hope not.
@harveyw12175661: Carlisle effect.
@RuddyNuisance: Been clear that something hasn’t been right for a long while now, yes we’re short of quality up top but definitely should be getting more out of this group of players, accomplished manager but comes with obvious baggage, no idea what the answer is.
@NealTyson5: Can’t really say i didn’t see it coming after yesterday. Nearly 5k spectators for the first league Derby in 50 years and we perform like that. Writing was on the wall. Next manger better not play 5 at the back 😭🤣
@OllyWiiseman: Simmos blues causing absolute meltdowns everywhere
@gingeki: Ooft. Post match comments did little to make me think he knew how to turn things round. Fingers crossed we get the famous dead cat bounce.
@jeffbarrow81: Can’t say I’m displeased at this. I’ve kept quiet about him but didn’t like appointment from day one after his disrespectful comments on barrow fans in his first interview
@RobMcSWA: Back to Non League he goes
@james_flynn: Thought Cooper was a top appointment when Barrow brought him in. Neither will have expected a relegation battle. Crucial hire now needed to keep them in the Football League, then push up the table next year.
@LukeHiggins: Never a good time to be parting company with a manager but when you’ve won once at home in the league in 6 months you can’t have many complaints. Never really adhered himself to the fans and hard to see what long term vision he had for the club. Fancy some compo for Kelly, Wigan?
@CymruOllie: Sources say he’s blame Newport’s pitch
@ConorFreel: Excellent news. Worst manager I’ve ever seen at Barrow. Clearly didn’t want to be here from the start, such a miserable arsehole
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