Long Eaton appoint ex-Nott’m Forest, Sheff Wed, Watford, Northampton player as manager

Long Eaton United appoint ex-Nott’m Forest, Sheff Wed, Watford, Northampton player Lewis McGugan as their new joint manager.

The 34 year old come in at the Southern League Premier Central club to replace Ian Deakin, who led the club to back-to-back promotions, but his management team were surprisingly sacked last week.

Deakin said he was ‘saddened and disappointed’ with the way his time at Grange Park came to an end.

Chairman Nick Dargan said: “we would like to thank Ian and his management team for their significant effort and commitment over the last 4 years and we wish them every success in the future.

“In footballing terms, their achievements have been second to none at this level.”

So in comes Lewis McGugan along with Brad Munn as joint-managers with their first game in charge a 2-1 defeat way to Leamington.

🗣️ 𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙂𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝘿

Long Eaton United FC can today confirm the appointment of Brad Munn and Lewis McGugan as their new management team ahead of the 2023/24 season. ✍️

Welcome to the Blues! 🙌#YouBlues 🔵⚫

— Long Eaton United FC (@LongEatonUnited) August 4, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Long Eaton United FC has today confirmed the appointment of Brad Munn and Lewis McGugan as their new management team ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The new management team will lead the Club into their first season at step three football, competing in the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Central Division.

Brad and Lewis, who last season managed Loughborough Dynamo in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division, oversaw training last night along with Director of Football Paul “Dutch” Holland. Dutch will be in charge of the team for Saturday’s opening fixture away at Leamington FC supported by the new joint management duo.

Joint manager Lewis McGugan said: “Being born and raised in Long Eaton, I understand what a great footballing town this is and a brilliant community to be part of.

“After witnessing the fantastic work and success both on and off the pitch in recent years, I am now really excited to be part of this journey.”

Joint manager Brad Munn added: “We come in with only admiration for what has been achieved here in such a short period, however, it is our job to try to maintain the status of football that the club is now at.

“We are under no illusions as to the task in hand and believe with the players, club and supporters backing that we can have a successful, sustainable year on and off the pitch… Here’s to a new chapter.”

Confirming the team’s appointment, Chairman Nick Dargan said: “We are delighted to welcome Brad and Lewis to the Club. Their enthusiasm for the role and the work they have done at Loughborough leaves us with no doubt they will be a success.

“We met last night with the players along with supporters’ representatives and explained to them why we have taken the incredibly difficult decision to change our first team
management.

“Finally, we would like to thank all our staff who have worked incredibly hard this week and now look forward to travelling to Leamington FC tomorrow and hosting Hitchin Town at Grange Park on Saturday 12th August.”

Lewis McGugan recently explained the collapse of his career, saying on the Garibaldi Red podcast, as per Nottingham Post: “There’s so many elements to it. Is there stuff I could have done better? Could I have made different decisions? One hundred percent. There’s also stuff I had to go through. My time at Sheffield Wednesday ruined my career,” he said.

“I was in the wilderness. There was nothing I could do. That period changed my career. There was a gap where everyone was thinking what happened? Some of the stuff took it’s toll on me. I went through such a bad period I didn’t realise at the time what it was doing to me mentally. Growing up and being in football, it was different then. You show weakness and there’s no place for it.

“You create a shield and it’s sad for me. When I got away from the club (Wednesday) I wasn’t the same person or player. When you go to the other clubs they all ask about that gap in playing for over a year. I understand that but people just make assumptions.

“I went into clubs and kept as fit as possible and I’d be as professional as possible. Clubs kept bringing up that I hadn’t played. I can’t change that. Are we going to look at that or the future and what I can change?

“I miss playing football but the other side of it, I can’t stand it. There’s so much politics and so many people looking after themselves. You become a pawn in the grand scheme. I was a dad coming back to my son and I regret that I was a world away. I needed to be a dad. I needed to be here in body and mind.

“I said I’ll give it one last go at Scunthorpe. Perchy (former Reds defender James Perch) was there at the time. That had a team of good pros. It was the first time in ages I felt I could go again. I was affecting training every day. Players were saying I was flying, but it was never going to happen.

“I’d been there for three months not getting paid using my own money to travel. I said to my agent is something going to happen? He said they wanted to make sure I could play 90 minutes and there’s a game coming up.

“I played in the game, scored and did well. I was in the game and with 15 minutes to go I nearly shed a tear because I was finally going to get a break and get back into an environment where I could resurrect everything.

“Afterwards they said there was no more budget to sign me. I drove home and said I had to look after myself, my headspace and be a dad. That was pretty much it really. I didn’t want to be anywhere near football. I had nothing to do with it for two or three years.”

Here’s what social media users are saying as Long Eaton appoint the ex-Nott’m Forest, Sheff Wed, Watford, Northampton player as manager…

@notts_bhoy: I wish them all the best but how the previous management team have been treated is disgusting 😡, if there’s more to it then the club should release a statement as the majority of the supporters I’ve spoke to are bewildered about the sackings 😟

@davo261088: Did a decent job at @lborodynamofc last year, despite being forced to sell their best player to Basford in Jan. Hope they do well at Long Eaton.

@AHayer16: Good luck lads @Bmunn93 @lewismcgugan1, great appointment 👏

@luke_mcginnell: Proper people, best of luck 💙 @Bmunn93 @lewismcgugan1

@rambler808: Good luck for the season!

@rjlawts: Fantastic appointment for Long Eaton Utd.

@craighopkins3: Good luck gents 👍

@goy_matthew: Two top people in the non league all the best

@derbyshitered: Get Lewis as player coach bet he can still twat it from 35yards

@PhilipJCartwri1: Expect a raid on Dynamo players in the next few days.

@StephenKFrost1: Unbelievable, back to back promotions, in difficult circumstances and they get rid of the management team that got them there. Football owners so much knowledge always surprises me.