Cambridge appoint new permanent head coach in Mark Bonner until the end of the 2021-22 season, however majority of fans have been left disappointed.
He initially impressed many by winning his first four games in temporary charge, however that form has dropped away as a draw and two defeats then followed.
?️ Cambridge United have today appointed Mark Bonner as the Football Club's Head Coach.
Full statement | ➡️ https://t.co/Mnb9ixkRDR#CamUTD pic.twitter.com/Y957XNBMVM
— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) March 9, 2020
Whilst with the U’s, who currently sit 16th in the League Two table, Bonner has been an academy manager, first-team coach and assistant boss.
Paul Barry, Club Owner, said: “As a Club we have always recognised Mark’s great potential as a coach and it is why we fast tracked him from the Academy into the first team set up. Over recent weeks he has really stepped up as a leader of our football club and impressed everybody in the way he has conducted himself, motivated everyone and galvanised the Club. He is Cambridge United through and through and has genuinely earned this opportunity.
“I would like to thank the Board for conducting what has been a rigorous six week recruitment process. After our final decision to appoint Mark I spent a long time with him last week at the Club discussing the future. He is absolutely aligned with my and the Board’s thinking going forward. We need to be doing better on the pitch and be competing further up the table as we are all ambitious for success and to play at a higher level. We want to do it playing more attacking football and entertaining the fans. I made it clear to Mark that I will be making available a larger playing budget to help us do this. We want to improve the facilities and environment around the first team. We also want to develop our young players, give them more first team playing time and use the new partnership with St Neots as a genuine development opportunity.
“There is still a lot to play for this season and at the same time as trying to finish as high up the league table as possible, everyone at the Club is now starting to focus on the planning for next season to give us the best possible chance of success. Mark is the right appointment for the Club and, working in partnership with Ben Strang, can lead us forward in what we all hope will be an exciting next stage for Cambridge United.”
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
Shaun Grady Chairman of the Board said: “We have run a very thorough recruitment process involving Paul and every member of the Board over recent weeks. It has been more important for all of us to get the next appointment right rather than to do it quickly. Mark was our unanimous choice as Head Coach and someone we genuinely believe we can build the future of this football club around. He is a very talented young coach and as a Board we are all committed to giving him the support he needs to succeed. The search for his assistant is underway.”
Fans took to Twitter to give their thoughts as Cambridge appoint the new permanent head coach…
Deary me
— Chris Vessey ?? (@ChrisVesseyCUFC) March 9, 2020
Distinct feeling of deja vu, hoped we had learnt from Dunne, on the back of two awful performances to (up there with Calderwood), hope he has the balls to cull all the deadwood who have stolen a living (Lambe/O’Neill/Jones etc) along with Lewis, Taylor etc, clean sweep needed
— Michael Spencer (@michael972013) March 9, 2020
Cheap option as always. Dunno y they bothered waiting!
— Ryan Asby (@RyanAsby) March 9, 2020
Terrible decision, wasn’t even considered for the job before he got us on a decent run of form. He was part of the problem before, shouldn’t even be kept on as assistant.
— Patrick Ellis (@patchellis) March 9, 2020
Hard to believe we've done it again.
— Peter White (@PeterWh63601790) March 9, 2020
ah the good old cheap option
— Mícheál (@MFOD2010) March 9, 2020
Will give him a chance but I have feeling feeling this will be a remake of the Joe Dunne situation…usually look at things as a glass half full but this does appear to be a case of the dregs in the drip tray. Let us see how he reacts to two defeats on the bounce this Saturday.
— Brian Rayner (@1965brian) March 9, 2020
It’s Joe Dunne all over again…we have learned nothing
— Tom Bonnett (@TomBonnett2) March 9, 2020
Great appointment absolute no brainer to appoint mark
— Toby (@Toby02943279) March 9, 2020
Terrible decision.
— Tom Sewell (@Tom_CUFC) March 9, 2020
Disappointing, but not surprised.
— Daniel Jordan (@DanJordan90) March 9, 2020
No
— imo ! ! ! (@imogensawers) March 9, 2020
Unbelievable!! This board has no ambition. Strang should have gone as well!! Another puppet for the club to dictate to. ?
— Cambridge Bear (@scooterrangers) March 9, 2020
Agree with that. Absolutely no need to make this appointment now (a better one yes, but not this one). Will be taking a break next season too.
— Peter White (@PeterWh63601790) March 9, 2020
So the past two games have been extremely poor, back to the usual hopeless performances. Talk about underwhelming. No push for promotion next season then.
— Paul Rawlings (@ThePaulRawlings) March 9, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login