A non league manager is facing drugs charges after his club announced that he was taking an ‘immediate break’ from football.
It was in February 2024 that Redditch United said that boss Matt Clarke “immediate break from football for personal reasons”, with it now confirmed that he is facing cocaine and cannabis supply charges.
West Mercia Police confirmed that the 50 year old was charged on the 14th of February with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.
Redditch United manager Matt Clarke has been charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.https://t.co/tOHSkwdaef
— BBC News Midlands (@bbcmtd) April 19, 2024
𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲
Matt Clarke will be taking an immediate break from football for personal reasons.
Full statement below.
— Redditch United (@RedditchUtd) February 29, 2024
Co-defendants Harnaik Malhi, 43, and Keller Preece, 26, have also been charged with the same four offences, while Preece faces a fifth charge of common assault of an emergency worker.
The Redditch manager appeared at Hereford magistrates’ court with two co-defendants over the drugs allegations on Valentine’s Day, and also faced a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place when indicted at Worcester crown court last month but did not enter a plea.
Clarke is due to appear back at court on the 7th of May for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The Southern Football League Premier Division club’s statement on his ‘leave’ came two weeks after the offences are alleged to have taken place on the 13th of February.
It said at the time it “anticipates it to be a short break”.
Redditch chairman David Faulkner gave “no comment” when asked if Clarke had been sacked or would ever return as manager.
On the 29th of February, the club issued a statement which said: “Matt Clarke will be taking an immediate break from football for personal reasons. At this stage, we anticipate this to be a short break.
“The current backroom staff will be leading the team, and it is expected that this will continue to be the case until Matt’s return.”
Clarke is an ex-West Brom and Wolves schoolboy Clarke, before going on to play for Redditch, Kidderminster, Hereford and Telford United. He also previously managed Halesowen and Evesham and then re-joined Redditch four years ago.
Currently, Redditch sit fifth in the Southern League Premier Division Central table, having drawn 3-3 away at Barwell on Saturday 20th April), and are hoping to clinch a playoff place.
At the time of leaving Redditch, the club were 2nd with 60 points, and just two points behind leaders Needham Market.
Clarke said at the time, after beating then-bottom side Berkhampsted 1-0: It was very scrappy, it wasn’t a good performance from us but we put a big emphasis on reaching 60 points with 10 games to go before the game and we’ve done that.
“It’s been very difficult over the last few weeks, although the form is good, because of the amount of changes but we were good enough to win the game.
“To keep getting points on the board we’ve got to be better, Berkhamsted deserved something out of the game but we defended really well, it’s another clean sheet.
“It’s another home win and another three points and that’s huge at this stage of the season, it’s not all about performances.”
Clarke added: “The break could not come quick enough for us, from a fatigue and injury point of view we’ve been hanging on, it’s been really tough.
“The week’s grace next Saturday will give us an opportunity to reset, having the skipper back was massive for us, he’s a huge player for us.
“We lost our way a little bit and we needed his nous, experience and quality, he didn’t really influence the game but just having him on the pitch was massive.
“The week will give us an opportunity to get people off the physio table and out on the pitch, in order for us to progress and keep getting points we need to get those players out on the field.”
Since that game, Redditch have lost 6, won 2 and drew 1.
Social media users reacted with the non league manager facing drugs charges after club announced ‘immediate break’ from football…
@focussports98: Just one normal day in non league. Please 😂😂😂
@gary_gas: Manager arrested for drugs hence why not at club embarrassing as the owner supported him also previously charged match fixer, and you support them .. throw them out for embarrassing Redditch who’s people deserve more
@villalad82: Any chance of a statement from the spineless chairman regarding the manager? You been telling us to support the club and we have with the best chance to get playoffs in years and this. Come on @_davidfaulkner you should have sorted this weeks ago!
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