Eastleigh sack their manager after five games into new season with interims named

Eastleigh sack their manager Lee Bradbury after five games into the new season with interims named as replacements, for now.

The Spitfires fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southend United on Friday night and are without a win so far for the 2023-24 campaign.

48 yer old Bradbury was named as back in February 2022 and guided the club to a ninth placed finish in his first full season in charge.

We can confirm that Lee Bradbury has been relieved of his duties as First-Team Manager.

— Eastleigh FC (@EastleighFC) August 26, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Eastleigh Football Club can today confirm that we have terminated the contract of First Team Manager Lee Bradbury and assistant manager Brian Stock with immediate effect.

In the interim period, Richard Hill will oversee the first-team squad along with Jason Bristow.

A full recruitment process will be undertaken following today’s decision to appoint a new management team.

We would like to thank Lee and Brian for their commitment to the club during their year and a half tenure at Eastleigh FC and we wish them both all the best for the future.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Early goals from the Shrimpers’ Noor Husin and Harry Cardwell took the game away from Eastleigh as they fell to their another defeat.

Southend United: Andeng Ndi (GK), Scott-Morriss, Ralph (C), Kensdale, Bridge, Husin (89), Cardwell, Mooney (73), Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (63)

Subs: Powell (73), Wood, Demetriou (89), Coker (63)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Clampin (65), Francillette, Carter, Taylor (C), Barlow, Langston, Nwabuokei (65), Maguire, Quigley, Rutherford

Subs: Scott (GK), Atangana, McCallum, Boldewijn (65), Hodson (65)

After the game, Lee Bradbury said: We didn’t concentrate for a couple of times in the first half and we got punished for that down our right side um you could say it’s good play from them but you know we spoke about it all week about about the way they play and uh prepared for it as good as we could but um switched off for a couple of moments and got punished for that and when you come here and you’re 2-0 down half times always going to be tough to get back into it but I thought we showed a good reaction after half time but it’s easy to do so when we’re when we’re losing a bit braver to get on the ball and pass the ball and probably a better position we actually had some really good chances in the game um probably the best chances in the game but we didn’t quite have that cutting edge tonight but um that’s not a it’s not a slime that quick as I thought he works absolutely 100 hard for the team tonight but as a team we didn’t take those chances

Interviewer: Why do you think it is that we’re not clicking?

LB: I don’t know if I knew that then we wouldn’t be uh not clicking so um I think um as a group where we’ve got good lads we’ve got good pros and um you know we just need a bit more to to be able to click in together and make sure that we are all on the same page we’ve worked hard on the training ground this week and got some good patterns out and some some good bits into our play um and not many teams come here and have higher possession than the opposition but I think we probably just edge that tonight

Interviewer: The elephant in the room is five games and still without a win, are you worried?

LB: No I’m not worried of course I’m frustrated you know is with three three draws and two losses it’s frustrating because we’re better than that and we’ve got a better group than that um we will get there I’m 100 confident in the boys and I know that with uh you know with a little bit more time we’ll click and then we’ll be we’ll be a good force to be reckon with but the frustrating thing is that the clubs around us are picking up points and and getting away from us at this stage and the further we are away um the harder it may become but listen we’re ups and downs in the league throughout the season everyone will it’s just like rather not down down now and uh we start to climb the league table very soon I’m sure

Here’s what fans said as Eastleigh sack their manager after five games into the new season with interims named…

@mwoot_17: Surprised but not surprised, ridiculously poor start but got a whole new Squad suited to a previous manager, better have someone lined up otherwise we proper are in the shitter

@JoeDart22161245: Seems quite harsh to me. Brought in 14 new players over the summer, had a slow/poor start, which is understandable with so many new faces. More signings when the new manager comes in? Or find a manager to fit the squad?

@mikeyyysfc: Had to happen, was only a matter of time, HAVE to get a top coach in now to deal with this squad.

@TomBowyer12: Need a manager that can figure out how to get points away from home.

@Spitfire2295: A better than expected season last season and steadied the ship, leaving it in a slightly better place – thanks Lee and Brian and good luck for your next endeavour.

@CeejFM: Sorry but it’s the right decision. Only going backwards under Bradbury. We were saved last season in tricky situation by players like Harps and Danny, now they’re gone we’ve got nothing.

@leewilsonDRFC: Right decision. Said pre-season that his brand of defensive football does not fit what the club signed in the summer. A good manager makes them a physically imposing side who can play some good football. I think Ardley would fit the bill well there.

@Diggerthedog1: Ruthless, if we had been this ruthless with McMahon we might not have been in the current mess we find ourselves in right now.

@byrne_danbyrne: Hopefully get the cowley bros in 🤞🤞

@blufferfish089: This is quite possibly one of the most brutal sacking messages I’ve ever seen. Lee provided some good performances over his tenure, but this season has not been good enough. I wish him the best and look to the future with hope

@Wellsted_ftbl: can’t decide if that’s right or not because imo he should’ve had more time but with all the money he’s had it’s been a shocking start but we only would’ve sacked him if we have a good replacement in line

@jmcclaf: Surprised this happened so quickly, especially with a game Monday. Standard of football has.not been great but maybe a few more games would have changed that, maybe not. But on to Monday and behind the team