Braintree Town part company with manager to safeguard the club’s future

Braintree Town part company with manager Angelo Harrop to safeguard the club’s future, according to the club statement released.

The team sit 20th in National League following a 3-1 defeat to 19th place Maidenhead United on Tuesday night, with both sides now on 19 points after 20 games played. Wealdstone, who Braintree lost 3-2 to in October, are 19th with 19 points but have a game in hand.

Harrop was named Braintree’s manager back in May 2022 and managed to guide the club to promotion in May, with a 4-3 win over Worthing in the National League South playoff final.

However, after only picked up 5 wins from their 20 games this season, as well as being knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round following a penalty shoot-out against Brackley Town, the club have parted with Harrop.

STATEMENT:

The club can confirm, following a meeting with the board, the departure of First Team Manager Angelo Harrop.

Angelo took us to two playoff’s in two years and managed to win promotion on the second try, whilst also winning the Essex Senior Cup too in his first season!… pic.twitter.com/b9h2yzgULS

— Braintree Town FC (@braintreetownfc) November 27, 2024

STATEMENT:

The club can confirm, following a meeting with the board, the departure of First Team Manager Angelo Harrop.

Angelo took us to two playoff’s in two years and managed to win promotion on the second try, whilst also winning the Essex Senior Cup too in his first season!

The Board subsequently agreed to ask First Team Coach Justin Moseley to assist as interim manager.

🗣️ Chairman Lee Harding explained the decision “We have been talking with Angelo since the start of the season and the Board have decided it is time for a change to safeguard the Club’s future.

We would like to thank Angelo for his efforts over the past two and a half years at the Club. We have achieved much together on and off the field and wish him all the very best in the future.

We then spoke with both Justin Moseley and senior players after the game, who have all agreed to help the Club going forward. All of us are now focused on turning our fortunes around with training this week and our game against Gateshead on Saturday.”

Looking ahead, the Club will be advertising for a replacement in due course. For more information contact the Club at info@braintreetownfc.org.uk.

Angelo Harrop branded Braintree as ‘unrecognisable’ in the 3-1 defeat against Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

BBC Essex Sport interviewer: The fans been right behind you this season. A bit of a mixed reaction at the end there. Do you think that is fair enough?

Harrop: Oh, completely fair enough. That that that was unrecognisable of of the teams that we’ve had over the last 3 seasons. And, you know, they deserved the 3 points. You know, they wanted a bit more than us. You know, you go back to the Wealdstone game and it worries me when it’s muddy and it’s wet and it’s, you know, these cold evenings now, I’m not so sure we’re ready for that. And, you know, that comes down to me. I’ve recruited the players, and and today, we just weren’t good enough.

Interviewer: And you mentioned Wealdstone, Boston, Ebbsfleet when they came as well. It’s the bottom of the table sides, the 6 pointers.

Harrop: Yeah. When it’s not pretty and, you know, they’re they’re constantly turning us around. You know, it just wasn’t a good performance from us today. And the players and myself, we’ve gotta take accountability and responsibility for that. You know, I just wanna apologise for our fans that have paid their their good money to come tonight. Just wasn’t good enough.

Interviewer: Deja vu in the first minute like Boston. First attack and going past Lucas Covolan again. Is he in a confidence issue at the minute? What do you think? A word on Lucas.

Harrop: I think, you know, not just him. I think as a team, we’re lacking a bit of confidence. We, you know, we go on a three game win winning streak and then we go and, you know, get beat, the game against Boston was was quite bizarre in terms of how we lost the game. And I think that sort of, you know, took it into today’s game and conceded after, you know, again a minute. Got absolutely no chance in this league, and, you know, we’re at home. We need we need to be on the front foot and just never thought we got started tonight.

Interviewer: You tried several different ways of moving people around in the second half. You can’t say that it didn’t try different tactics, but none of them seem to work. Can can you put your finger on why?

Harrop: I think when we made the change at half time, we obviously got it back to 21, and then then our tails were up for about 5 minutes. And then we go and concede a penalty and get a sending off. You know? It’s just it’s just not good enough, and, the boys know that inside.

Interviewer: Possibility of new players coming in. I know there’s not exactly stacks of money around for it.

Harrop: I’m not sure. I’ll have to speak to, you know, speak to the chairman about that. But, yeah, we just gotta carry on with what we’ve got and, you know, not moan about it, work with what we’ve got, and keep pushing. It’s gotta have that reaction. They’re all big games. You know, every game is tough. I knew this you know, when I took the job on this this summer, you know, it’s talked to me moving to other clubs. And, you know, I’m glad that, you know, I’ve put a team that I felt that was very, very competitive and, you know, the fans could get behind. But right now, I do think we need we need 1 or 2. Without a shadow of doubt, we need sort of, you know, a few enforcements coming in that we can sort of rejuvenate the squad.

Interviewer: You knew it was gonna be tough. It does feel like you knew that there weren’t gonna be moments like this.

Harrop: Yeah. I’ve been 3 seasons, so, you know, I I knew it was gonna be like this, but I’m a manager that keeps one of the progression. And, you know, we just fell short tonight. I think everyone could see that. You know, if that’s a small squad or individually, we just weren’t good enough, and and we’ve gotta take take responsibility for that.

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Here’s how Twitter users reacted as Braintree Town part company with their manager to safeguard the club’s future…

@GeorgeMurfet_: If you hadn’t won that playoff final and were 5th in the league he’d still be at the club. Why should it be different when he’s outside the bottom 4 in the national league? Shocking decision

@TheOnlyIron: Board makes a rubbish decision, when will they learn… It’s the players that ain’t been playing for us #HardingOut #SackTheBoard. Will probably just go and get Hakan back knowing us

@Deutsch_Gills: A real victim of his own success. Not sure Braintree have got this one right.

@MarkJMorsley: Quote of the season ‘ Chairman Lee Harding explained the decision “We have been talking with Angelo since the start of the season and the Board have decided it is time for a change to safeguard the Club’s future.’ So the way to safeguard the clubs future is to get rid of a really decent young manager 😳😳

@08bucks: What is this all about. Crazy decision 🤦🏻‍♂️

@calgildart: Talk about being a victim of your own success. Playoffs and promotion in two seasons that started with the team being favourites for relegation. Really feels like a short-sighted decision. He’s done a blinding job and won’t want for suitors. All the best, Angelo.

@L4RKE: Maybe if the board upgraded the club and spent some money that would help first? You aren’t going to attract good players and managers when the clubhouse for example, is almost identical to 30 years ago. Shambles of a decision by the penny pincher again.

@JarrodBrown123: Angelo absolutely not to blame. We’ve just lost a great manager because the players didn’t give a shit. Poor decision by the club; he deserves better, best of luck @HarropAngelo 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙏🏻

@RussWWFC: A tad ungrateful after he got you an unexpected promotion. Still outside the relegation zone and doing well by all accounts. Deluded if you expect better, you’ve probably just relegated yourselves.

@JJHD1610: Got to feel for Ang, let down by his players “even the senior players”

@adxxmmxl: Such a disappointing decision by the board no suprise there. Lee Harding your the one that needs to get out of our club for good. It’s not Harrops fault it’s some of the players for this but wherever Harrop goes to next wishing him all the best and be cheering him on.

@AshWebb51: Shocking Decision Braintree should be ashamed!

@stuartmrswans: A questionable decision? Harrop has worked wonders there and Club is absolutely punching above its weight. A very good appointment here, for somebody – presumably @stalbanscityfc and @hemelfc should be very interested?

@LivoAaron: You can have David Noble we’ll take Angelo Harrop cheers boys. I’ve decided.

@clivemaskell: Shocking decision he got the club punching above its weight with amazing success and club shows him no loyalty or backing…

@bdwicks: Disgraceful decision, absolutely awful – after that surprise promotion as well. Lee Harding should be ashamed. After twenty odd years of discussion we’re still in a dump of a ground, you ditched most of the players that got us promoted last season. Take a hard look at yourself.

@VinnyBrown100: Wrong decision.. it’s the players not the manager

@MrFooty12: Really poor decision this, Angelo got you up and a lot of these results are expected. Your decision could be costly by the end of the season…

@goff_chris: Madness this… your probably on the smallest budget in league wot does your chairman expect from him….. top bloke is angelo certainly wont be out of work for long braintrees loss is someone elses gain

@holyman91: Wow, the disrespect.

@Lelam2002: Absolutely shocking decision. Angelo Harrop was one of the best managers we’ve ever had. Rather of gone down with him!

@joemfrisby: Ridiculous decision from the club, the best Braintree manager in yrs doing his best after a unexpected promotion, will struggle to find someone better that also has a great connection with the fans @HarropAngelo good luck in the future

@SteveDeGiovann1: Harding – time for you to go – we’ve been here so many times before

@MattMorton16: If this is based on footballing reasons and performance then it is absolutely ridiculous. Talk about being a victim of your own success.

@Richard45219546: Outrageous decision 😳

@dblooms10: Wow. Can’t beat a good culture throughout the club and a team ethos. Win together, lose together, work together to improve. After the incredible job Gino has done you’d have thought he had built an emotional bank account worth more than a few months after promotion.

@ajmorris91: All the replies should tell you what an abysmal decision this is. A club that looks the same as when I first went 25+ years ago as a kid. Sacking a highly promising manager is almost as bad the constant fabrication of attendances. Stuck in the dark ages. Ran by a dinosaur

@ClaretYid1985: Biting the hand that’s fed you.

@JoshFairhurst11: Club is a joke

@MikeyMcMahon: Outsider looking in…. this seems ridiculous.

@JulsP1970: Outrageous decision. The players need to take a long hard look at themselves. They are so arrogant that they can’t be bothered to acknowledge the young fans unlike last years players who would always smile and say hello. Angelo has been made the scapegoat here.

@tuff_gary: Crazy reaction given the lack of budget & loanee’s he’s had to work with.

@BenSwanster: Another manager became a victim of his own success…. All the best Mr Harrop. Let’s see if this turns out to work out for the club. 👀