Huge blow for Worthing with their manager appointed by York City

York City FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Hinshelwood as the club’s new first team manager.

The 40-year-old attack-minded manager joins the Minstermen on a long-term deal following over six-years at Worthing FC.

Hinshelwood’s Worthing side have racked up over 269 league goals since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.

A Football League defender by trade during his playing days, Hinshelwood boasts over 100 Brighton & Hove Albion appearances across the Championship and League One.

Spells at Aldershot and Wycombe in the Football League also followed for the central defender during a playing career hit by injury.

In 2013, Hinshelwood was appointed manager of the Rebels before leaving a couple years later to pursue a coaching role at Brighton & Hove Albion.

A return in 2017 has seen an Isthmian Premier Division title and a Sussex Senior Challenge Cup secured since, with Worthing now plying their trade in the National League South.

Hinshelwood’s promotion to the National League South was halted twice during both the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, with their eventual promotion secured in 2022 after keeping up on their relentless title-winning form to complete a full season.

Hinshelwood also brings two key major staff members with him to the LNER Community Stadium, namely Gary Elphick and Cameron Morrison.

38-year-old Elphick joins the Minstermen from Worthing too as Hinshelwood’s assistant manager.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion defender signed for Worthing back in 2015 to work with Hinshelwood initially, however went on to steer the ship and win promotion from Isthmian League Division One South at the first attempt via the play-offs.

Elphick proceeded to repeat his feat of promotion from Isthmian League Division One South East with Hastings United, winning the title in 2022 before returning to Worthing in the summer of 2023.

Morrison also joins the Minstermen as Hinshelwood’s first team coach from Worthing. Morrison is qualified with a UEFA A license as well as a MSc degree in Performance Analysis and BSc degree in Football Coaching & Performance.

Welcome to the Minstermen: Adam, Gary, and Cameron!

Adam Hinshelwood has left his role as First Team Manager to join York City in the National League.

— Worthing FC (@WorthingFC) February 27, 2024

WORTHING STATEMENT:

The Club can confirm following recent discussions and the completion of the necessary paperwork, first team manager Adam Hinshelwood will leave his role to join York City Football Club as their new Head Coach, effective immediately.

Club chairman Barry Hunter commented: “We appreciate that this will be disappointing news for everyone connected with Worthing Football Club”.

“However, Adam has been an incredibly successful and loyal manager to the club and we knew sooner or later he was going to attract the attention of clubs higher up the football pyramid. This is not the first approach we have had from clubs requesting permission to talk with Adam but despite their current league position, we recognise the credentials York City have and the career-changing opportunity this was for Adam”. “It is not lost on the club’s board that this is a challenging time to lose our manager. But Adam leaves us in a healthy league position, something we intend to capitalise on and we believe this was the right time to support him”.

Adam first took the reigns more than a decade ago, on Christmas Day in 2013 and laid the foundations for a more settled and productive future by providing opportunities to young players.

After a brief spell away from the Club, Adam returned for his second spell in September 2017 and oversaw a remarkable turnaround, guiding the Rebels to safety after the side picked up just one point from eight matches before his appointment. He was rewarded with a new three-year full time contract that incorporated the role of Academy Manager.

After back-to-back null-and-void seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Adam secured the Isthmian Premier Division title by 10 points in 2021/22, and with it promotion to the National League for the first time in the club’s history. He also guided the Rebels to Sussex Senior Cup glory in 2022/23, following a penalty shootout win over rivals Bognor Regis Town at the Amex Stadium.

Adam will be joined in North Yorkshire by coaches Gary Elphick and Cameron Morrison who also leave their support roles at the club.

Gary rejoined the club at the start of the season in a coaching capacity. The former Brighton and Hove Albion defender was signed by the club back in 2015 by Hinselwood and was offered the chance to become joint-manager of the club alongside Jon Meeney when the position became available following Hinshelwood’s departure. The pair guided the club to promotion from Isthmian League Division One South at the first attempt via the play-offs and consolidated in the Premier Division the following season.

Cam has become a key member of Hinshelwood’s backroom staff over the last eight years having first started at Worthing as a young coach in 2016.

The club can also confirm that Aarran Racine will become First Team Manager on an interim basis. The club’s former captain, who recently called time on his playing career will take charge of training on Thursday evening before overseeing his first match at Dartford on Saturday.

The 32-year-old will be supported by former Worthing captain Darren Budd and Dean Hammond who played in the Premier League with Southampton and also featured more than 150 times for Brighton and Hove Albion.

Darren was a firm fan favourite during his two spells at Woodside Road. Hinshelwood brought the midfielder back to the club shortly after his re-appointment in 2017 and quickly installed him as captain.

A hugely influential character in the dressing room his role was eventually merged with one as part of Hinshelwood’s management team, playing a vital role in helping the club secure promotion to the National League.

Dean comes with a wealth of footballing pedigree having made almost 500 professional appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion, Colchester United, Southampton and Leicester City.

He retired from the professional game in 2016 following a loan spell with Sheffield United but was tempted to put his boots on by former Seagulls teammate Hinshelwood when he signed terms with the club in 2020 but never made an appearance as the season was halted shortly after due to the pandemic. More recently he has been working as a coach with the U18s team this season.

Football Director Nathan Bowen feels the appointments help provide important continuity following Hinshelwood’s departure: “We want to minimise disruption to team affairs so that we can keep 100% focus on a play-off spot, appointing Aarran, Darren and Dean achieves this perfectly”.

“They are well known to and highly respected by the squad, understand first-hand our playing style and all care immensely about Worthing Football Club, the journey we are on and our short-term ambitions. The process to find a new permanent Men’s First Team Manager will commence soon”.

The club’s largest shareholder George Dowell added: “I would like to personally thank Adam for all that he has done for the club. He has achieved so much, not least taking us into the National League South. He has also played a fundamental role – with Nathan – in establishing our young player pathway, a cornerstone of our football DNA. This is a fantastic opportunity for Adam and he goes with the club’s full support”.

This is how fans reacted to what is a guge blow for Worthing with their manager appointed by York City…

@spattinson001: Long term a very exciting appointment. Short term i think this is a massive job and worlds apart. Excited yet concerned all in one with this #ycfc

@aaron_challoner: THAT is a HUGE blow for Worthing FC! For York City, that’s an exceptional appointment. In the short term he keeps them up and long term, really builds an exciting team to watch that can challenge to get back into the football league 👍🏼

@Wathey: Don’t know much about him but this is a pretty glowing reference. Assume he must’ve interviewed for the job last time around or the decision had been made before for Saturday for it to happen this quickly. #ycfc

@Gupster81: For me a very strange one, if true – a superb project that is in no way finished vs a club that’s had 4 managers since I watched them play last February. The most toxic environment at the time with David Webb the manager. Great to have ambition – this just doesn’t fit for me

@TerraStatman: Very bad news for promotion chasing @WorthingFC if true…especially if @olliepearce1 follows…

@Browny_90: Worthing have by far the best scoring record out of any of the National League levels. They also have one of the worst defensive records. We’re winning every game 8-6.

@adamk_92: Bring Ollie Pearce as well @YorkCityFC

@AdamGoldring5: Forgetting my Rocks head here. What he’s achieved at Worthing has been nothing short of superb. Surprised if this is true, it’s happening now so far into the season. Big shoes to fill for the next manager…

@jack_biggo: Good luck to him, know nothing about him but hope it works out #ycfc

@Chris_Davis1997: Well this is going to be interesting.

@harry50696659: I’m 50 50 with it tbf he knows how to set up his team well to score goals but Worthing have conceded a lot with him

@Chris_Davis1997: I’ve been to about 10 Worthing games this season and can confirm we win the lot

@YCFCJake: I think this is quite decent #YCFC

@TUFC18999: Ollie Pearce to York aswell then

@marowe1988: Odd move for him. Worthing very well run and have a good chance at promotion.

@steveyorkist: Inspired or batshit crazy?

@Gary_Tymon: Fun fact: Hinshelwood finished top of the Isthmian (step 7) League three years on the bounce with Worthing. (because two seasons were void because of covid they did not get promoted until the third win). #YCFC

@SeanCoffey96: Well as long as David Stockdale had no part of the Adam Hinshelwood decision I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. 🤞🏻🙃 #Ycfc

@PeterVale8: Gutted but another club was always going to come knocking with the success he had here, Good luck to him and will personally miss him.

@leightonread8: There gonna be swapping leagues in may 😂 must be getting paid big money

@Brightonfan: Why?! Just why?! Thought he would have wanted to see the job through and get Worthing promoted? Jack Spong signs on yesterday, thought it was another Adam inspired signing and then next day he leaves. Ridiculous!

@ollygrand__: Fuck sake man. Thanks for everything, but what a terrible move. I hope they’re paying you stupid money, otherwise it makes no sense

@Alfie_e7: Plays some great footy in fairness. Can see him keeping yous up

@IIISxltyIII: exciting appointment… hopefully be able to see some proper attacking football now and keep us in the national league. Welcome, Adam! 🔴🔵

@Dan19451945: Welcome Adam give it your all thats all we ask. Hope Ollie Pearce following 🤣🤣

@09_yorkie: I’ll reserve judgement here there’s no getting over excited it still doesn’t quite feel right without knowing more about ardleys departure.

@waynefawcett: All we want is half-decent front foot football footy with players that give it their all 👌🏻

@MichaelASc66822: Welcome to York City Adam. Appointing him today gives time for him to prepare and meet the players in Training in the next few days ahead of Wealdstone (H) on Saturday where we need to get three points from.