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Boston United appoint new manager; Bath City boss leaves after seven years

Boston United confirm the appointment new manager Graham Coughlan while Bath City boss Jerry Gill leaves after seven years at the club.

The Pilgrims are currently 23rd in the National League table and 7 points off getting out the relegation places.

Meanwhile, Jerry Gill and Bath part ways with the club sitting 20th in the National League South, 3 points above the drop zone.

BOSTON UNITED STATEMENT:

Boston United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Graham Coughlan as the club’s new first team manager.

Graham, who turned 50 on Monday, has extensive managerial experience in the EFL with the likes of Bristol Rovers, Mansfield Town and Newport County – as well as a developmental role at Sheffield United.

Following a thorough three-week recruitment process, the Pilgrims have opted for the Irishman to become the club’s new manager as they seek to retain the National League status earned in May.

He assumes immediate control of first team affairs at the Jakemans Community Stadium, as preparations continue for the visit of Braintree Town on Saturday.

Coughlan served Southend United for a number of years in assistant manager and first team coaching roles, before being appointed Bristol Rovers’ permanent manager in January 2019, following a successful spell in caretaker charge.

A spell with Mansfield followed, following an approach from the Field Mill club, before a return to first team management unfolded at Newport in October 2022, after a stint at Bramall Lane coaching the club’s under-23s.

At Newport, he preserved the club’s EFL status in his first campaign at the helm, before taking the Exiles to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup in the following season where they exited the competition to Manchester United at Rodney Parade.

As a player, the Dubliner played over 500 games, including headline spells with the likes of Livingston, Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday and earned three promotions.

BATH CITY STATEMENT:

After lengthy discussions over the weekend, Bath City FC and Jerry Gill have mutually agreed to part company with immediate effect.

On behalf of the BCFC Board, Chair Nick Blofeld said; “The club would like to put on record our gratitude to Jerry for his hard work over the past seven years, which saw us reach the play offs three times and win the Somerset Premier Cup. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours”

Jerry said: “It has been an absolute privilege to manage Bath City Football Club for the past seven years. It has been a huge part of my life and I am grateful to Nick and the board for giving me the opportunity. I hope everyone at the club has seen my loyalty throughout my time I have always been fully committed to the project at Bath City.“

Goalkeeping coach Lee Kendall and the senior players will take charge of the team in the short-term, including for tomorrow’s match against Maidstone. The recruitment process for a new manager will begin immediately.

Blofeld said; “We’re grateful that Lee Kendall has agreed to take the team for the next few weeks. We are now focussed on the recruitment process and will be updating the supporters in the near future on this. In the meantime, we hope that fans will come along tomorrow, to show their support and get behind the team.”

A longer statement of thanks from Jerry will be shared later in the week.

Here’s how fans reacted as Boston United appoint a new manager; and the Bath City boss leaves after seven years at the club…

ON BOSTON’S APPOINTMENT:

@charliebufc: Welcome, Graham! You’ve got your work cut out for you. 😅🧡🖤

@LincolnshireRam: A great appointment, did good work at Newport.

@Steve65LUFC: Sorry who is he and where has he been good luck anyway

@ArgyleLife1886: Graham Coughlan is back in management, back with the Pilgrims and back with a team in amber and black! That’s some birthday present from Boston United! Smash it, Cocko! 👊💚 Graham Coughlan becomes the latest to represent both sets of ‘Pilgrims’ after the likes of David Norris, Jermaine Easter, Lee Power, Luke McCormick, Jordan Slew, Ashley Hemmings and Kevin Blackwell.

@Richard84185456: U have a class man and an argyle legend. Good luck, Graham

@scottbufc: Interesting. A name I don’t think I ever heard on the rumour mill. Bloke keeps us up and he becomes a club legend. Simple as that!

ON BATH’S ANNOUNCEMENT:

@M_Woff16: Everyone will have their own take on this of course but for me it’s sad to see as he has provided real stability over the last 7 years and it’s no easy job with the limited funds compared with other clubs in the league. Thanks @JerryGill_2 and Good Luck for the future.

@samjfinch: Thanks for the hard work, total commitment and loyalty. All the best with your next venture. Always a Roman 🤍⚽️🖤

@MarkRadders: Bloody hell guys, took you long enough!!! Where will the non league Pinocchio end up now I wonder? Any team wanting a lying, cheating underachiever, get on the phone. Best of luck to bath now, sure the good times will return soon in his absence.

@ChrisChurch5: All the best for the future @JerryGill_2. You gave 100% commitment over the last 7 years despite difficult circumstances at times. This season has been tough and I am sorry it has ended this way.

@OctoLes: Sometimes a manager reaches a point where he has taken a club as far as he can. Reaching playoffs last season was probably overachievement with the resources available and was always going to be hard to repeat. Probably the right time to make an exit.

@simonyoung68: Best of luck @JerryGill_2 thank you for all your hard work over the last few years. Respect the “mutual decision” & trust the club to make the best decision for the long-term future & stability of our beloved club

@JGEditing: Thank you for your efforts and the good times in the past 7 years @JerryGill_2. All the best for the future 👊🏼

@BoomBoomN17: Possibly/probably the right decision. All the best to Jerry though, been a great servant for the club

@MNKOTEAM: Jerry’s certainly given his all over the years and is Bath through and through, he’s a v.good manager but just went stale at the end after a long stint – he will do well with a fresh start at a new club, good luck to him I say, left on good terms I hope

@Mrjoshiejj: Nice bloke but it had to happen unfortunately Bath City position in the League is not sustainable I would like to wish Jerry all the best

@StigMcnulty: All the best Jerry. Some good times over the last 7 years and some big wins but it’s been a struggle this season. Best of luck for the future.

@HeadPhoneJohn: Great servant for the club, best wishes Jerry 🥲

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