Fans left gutted as Fleetwood confirm appointment of new manager

Fleetwood Town confirm the appointment of their new manager, and it’s gone on to cause quite a mixed reaction on social media.

Grayson has agreed a deal to the end of the season and takes over with Fleetwood 14th in the table, nine points outside the playoff places.

#ftfc new head coach Simon Grayson has agreed a deal at Highbury until the end of the season 🤝

We will make a further announcement on an addition to his back room staff in due course.#OnwardTogether pic.twitter.com/wWvzOosyVZ

— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 31, 2021

CLUB STATEMENT:

Fleetwood Town can confirm the appointment of Simon Grayson as head coach.

The 51-year-old has agreed to a deal until the end of the season following the departure of previous boss Joey Barton earlier this month.

Grayson arrives with more than 15 years of first team managerial experience on his CV, which includes promotion winning stints from League One with four difference clubs.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Grayson was last in charge of Blackpool, however a worrying start saw them pick up just one win in 12 games in all competitions.

A 3-2 defeat at home to Gillingham left them 15th in the League One table, despite being 4th in mid-December 2019.

Prior to that, he was with Bradford City (in League One at the time), though got the boot in May 2018, managing just 14 matches for them – winning 3, drawing 5, and losing 6.

He’s also managed Sunderland, Preston, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Blackpool.

His managerial honours have seen him win the 2015 League One final with Preston, win the 2012 League One playoff final with Huddersfield, promotion from the third tier of English football with Leeds in 2010, and another League One playoff final win with Blackpool in 2007.

“I’m really excited to be at Fleetwood Town,” Grayson said.

“I spent a few hours with Andy Pilley this morning and we agreed a deal for me to take the job and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“Fleetwood Town are a football club I know a lot about, it’s a club with a really good infrastructure and I’m delighted to get back to work and be given this opportunity to get the club winning again. I can’t wait to get started.”

He explained: “First and foremost, I want to get Fleetwood back to winning ways, get a smile on players’ faces again and get them enjoying what they are doing.

“It’s never easy when you are losing games and things aren’t going your way, so I intend to get them smiling, working hard, and letting us in the right to win football matches. Hopefully, we can do that very quickly.”

GRAYSON’S CAREER STATS:

Blackpool – 10 November 2005 until 23 December 2008 – 163 games, 60 wins, 51 draws, 52 defeats, 36.81 win %
Leeds United – 23 December 2008 until 1 February 2012 – 169 games, 84 wins, 40 draws, 45 defeats, 49.70 win %
Huddersfield Town – 20 February 2012 until 24 January 2013 – 49 games, 17 wins, 15 draws, 17 defeats, 34.69 win %
Preston North End – 18 February 2013 until 29 June 2017 – 235 games, 104 wins, 74 draws, 57 defeats, 44.26 win %
Sunderland – 29 June 2017 until 31 October 2017 – 18 games, 3 wins, 7 draws, 8 defeats, 16.67 win %
Bradford City – 11 February 2018 until 8 May 2018 – 14 games, 3 wins, 5 draws, 6 defeats, 21.43 win %
Blackpool – 6 July 2019 until 12 February 2020 – 38 games, 13 wins, 12 draws, 13 defeats, 34.21 win %
Total – 685 games, 284 wins, 203 draws, 198 defeats, 41.46 win %

Fans reacted on social media after finding out that Fleetwood confirm appointment of new manager Simon Grayson…

@TimBirch13: That’s you lot screwed, then!

@LUFCjamie1919: Good luck Larry! Hope he does the job for Fleetwood!

@jtaylor3496: Announce relegation

@jonnyroberts73: Don’t understand some of the comments on here – decent appointment for Fleetwood in my opinion – good luck Simon!

@billyftfc: Can’t wait for this episode of impractical jokers

@Bantam0045: Has he told you how lucky you are to have him as your manager? No? Just wait, he will.

@AlexGreenman3: Good luck because you guys are gonna need it

@JN1234565: Ruined my Birthday, thanks

@davecassidy73: What an uninspiring appointment.

@Sam06bcfc: fleetwood can’t downgrade on joey barton… oh right

@Theguy75768441: Blackpool fan here. Good luck. You’re gonna need it. He plays Probably the most boring football ever. Expect to park the bus every game and only counter attack.

@DanielFranks85: There’s not a chance this he was first choice

@deluca2223: Really.. is this a joke..?

@ben_callum98 as Fleetwood confirm appointment of their new manager: We’ve fucked it really

@Jhouns1991: At least we don’t have to worry about Fleetwood turning us over every time we play them now

@robert27922280: Might be the worst manager I’ve ever seen

@matthewbcafc: Simon “I’m a championship manager” Grayson. Good luck Fleetwood , you’ll need it!

@joeyrex: When Blackpool appointed him I thought he could still do a job, he can’t. He’s not done anything in years and his football is so 1 dimensional and boring.

@SHD1903: One of the worst managers I’ve seen us have. Massive ego and a terrible attitude. Poor fleetwood

@DavidBarker__: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA FUCK OFF

@blackpoolwhite: Best of luck to the guy. Did a reasonable job at @LUFC and gave us back some respectability. MOT

@staffsseasider: Don’t know why you’re all moaning. League two isn’t all that bad

@allmodcams: What a fucking appointment

@HarvMarksy: Don’t get me wrong, Barton is a cock. But imagine going from a modern manager like Joey Barton who plays decent football to a dinosaur who hasn’t achieved anything in years like Simon Grayson. Saying that, we went from Cook to Jackett, so. Yea.

@chaddy_9611: Far from an exciting appointment for Fleetwood but they could do a lot worse than someone like him from now until the end of the season. He’s basically the John Sheridan of a few years ago!