Non league joint-managers sacked by club over Zoom despite upturn in form

Fans were left shocked this week as some non league joint-managers were sacked by their club over Zoom despite an upturn in form.

Mark Pitts says that he and Simon Portrey leave Goole AFC with their heads held high following their shock sacking over Zoom on Monday morning.

Pitts and Portrey were only given two months and six games in charge and they depart with a record of one win, two draws and three defeats.

Their departure leaves the Northern Counties East League Premier Division outfit preparing to unveil their 16th management team in seven years and their third this season yet have only played 11 games.

They sit 14th in the table, taking 11 points from 11 matches, and are six placed above the drop zone.

Their departures comes just as they saw an upturn in form having inherited a team which had been on a bad run.

The losses came against three of the league’s best sides and one of the draws was the stunning stalemate with Yorkshire Amateur.

Their short reign saw them win once, draw twice and lose three times, though that came after five defeats and two wins in those who were in charge before the duo.

“We can be very proud with what we achieved,” Pitts told Non League Yorkshire.

“We were asked to cut the budget twice and we got it down. We lost our goalkeeper coach inside three weeks of getting the job.

“We had a nightmare with injuries but still managed to pull a side together. There were a lot of positives to me and I think we would have definitely kicked on and kept them in the Division.

“The point against Yorkshire Amateur was exceptional. I still kick myself over the Knaresborough game. We should have won it but we got a point.

“We beat Silsden and in the other games against Liversedge, Bridlington and Grimsby; I think anyone in the bottom half would have been delighted to get anything from playing those three. Bridlington had beaten a decent Handsworth side 9-1 the week before.

“None of the players have let us down and I thought we were building a good group. The spirit was really good.

“Considering the six-week break we had we were going in the right direction. We’re totally shocked by the decision.”

There was a list of reasons as to why Pitts and Portrey were got rid of – many of which were not revealed during the zoom call – one however was on the team spirit which Pitts described as a “ridiculous claim”.

He said: “They said there was no camaraderie but how can you really work on team spirit properly when there’s a pandemic and you’re not allowed to socialise?

“If you watch the video of the Ammers game you’ll see plenty of camaraderie with players literally putting their bodies on the line to block everything they threw at us that night.

“I’m not going to keep gloating about that result but we took a point off the leaders who have dropped only four points.”

Despite the sacking being on a sour note, Pitts holds the club’s supporters in high regard.

“I’d like to thank the fans because they have been absolutely brilliant with us,” he said.

“In the first game we got hammered 6-0 by Liversedge and if I was a supporter I would thought ‘god, we’re in for a long haul here’.

“I’ve won a few trophies and had some decent experiences but that draw against the Ammers was unprecedented. I don’t think anyone expected that.

“The atmosphere that night was unbelievable. Every game we have played the fans have been brilliant. They deserve so much more.

“They’re some good volunteers there and some good guys in the background – Jamie Smith the secretary – and Leo Jamison who does the videos. He’s been an absolute diamond.”

There was a reaction as the non league joint-managers were sacked by their club over Zoom despite an upturn in form…

@smez87: 6 games is a joke, watched the ammers game and the team ran through brick walls for that result.

@23Wrighty: Shocking, a manager proven to win things and brought in step 7 players who should have been playing higher years before. All on relatively small money compared no doubt.

@shaunfenwick: Becoming a bit of a laughing stock now Goole, fans and volunteers dont deserve whats happening, another manager leaving so an entire team going with them no doubt

@mrgreyvanman: He’s right too.

@mrgreyvanman: @gooleafc any comment?

@Raulsb123: Rubbish decision Mark. All the best to you and Simon. Two top blokes

@dannyk111: Shocking decision by them. The club will never go in a positive direction unless things behind the scenes change !!

@Dan_middo: Be plenty of teams available

@Coach_MarkM: Absolutely gutted for you both mate. You were doing a great job and started to put together a good team

@bowser133: fuck sake pal not great. im sure someone will take you on