It has been revealed that Gateshead have sacked their manager, Ben Clark, bringing an end to his nine-year stay at the club – and leaves them with no staff.
Clark, the club’s former defender, was reportedly axed by text and handed two weeks’ notice and joins press officer Dominic Scurr in leaving the National League side.
Over the weekend, general manager Alisha Henry was sacked also by text, assistant manager Ian Watson, midfielder/kit manager JJ O’Donnell and club therapist Annie Davis have now also been told their services are no longer required, yet the club finished impressively just outside the playoffs.
Former Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy has had his attempts at taking over the Tynesiders unsuccessful.
The club can’t train at the stadium either due to unpaid council bills and instead have headed and been allowed to do so at Hebburn Town.
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A statement from owner Ranjan Varghese sees him put forward a new direction for the club following the dismal one off the pitch.
There was also no mention on the reported story that they would apply for voluntary relegation from the National League to the Northern Premier League.
Varghese stated: “I took Gateshead FC over a week before the season started and inherited a club that was haemorrhaging money on a regular basis.
“This was unsustainable and I set about reducing the crippling monthly financial losses down to a more manageable figure.
“This has proved to be a significant challenge given the limited number of regular fans coming through the turnstiles.
“Over the past ten months we have had to make some very tough decisions that weren’t always popular and weren’t made lightly.
“They were crucial to ensuring the club’s survival and these past few days in particular have been very difficult.”
One club statement last week after the appointment of two new directors, said: “Gateshead is still officially up for sale and the newly-appointed directors will stay at the club until it is sold.”
After learning that Gateshead manager Ben Clark has been sacked by text by the club’s owner – fans have taken to social media to not only voice their outrage, but also their concerns – check out what they had to say on the next page.
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