There was shock as King’s Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington resigns an hour after his side’s win to take up an alternative post at another club.
The 51 year old steps away from his managerial position despite being on contract at The Walks outfit until the end of next season.
After the final whistle, he informed the club of his decision, with the announcement made just over an hour after his side’s 1-0 win over Chorley.
Think this @Smudgerlinnet picture from the game at Chorley yesterday tells a story in itself. An hour later, it was announced by the club that Widdrington was leaving @officialKLtown pic.twitter.com/8viztdyQee
— Greg Plummer (@GregTheLynnNews) April 2, 2023
He leaves the club second in the National League North standings, five points behind league leaders AFC Fylde, but the Coasters have a game in hand.
ALDERHSOT STATEMENT:
Aldershot Town Football Club can confirm that Ross McNeilly has been relieved of his temporary duties as First-Team Manager and will return to his former role of Academy Manager.
We’d like to thank Ross for all his efforts whilst involved in First-Team affairs.
Tommy Widdrington will take charge of the First Team from our return to training tomorrow morning.
Widdrington recently resigned from his Managerial role at Kings Lynn Town, leaving them second in the Vanarama National League North.
The 51-year-old enjoyed a long playing career in the Football League with an abundance of Premier League appearances with Southampton.
In his non-playing career, he spent five years as Manager of Eastbourne Borough and before joining Kings Lynn in December 2021, had a number of roles at Bristol Rovers during a three-year spell.
Club Chairman Shahid Azeem said: “Firstly, thanks to Ross for all of his huge effort and hard work since stepping up from Academy Manager back in October.”
“With just six games left, we felt we needed to make a change and when notified of Tommy’s resignation, wanted to act quickly to secure the man that we believe can help us with the final push towards mathematical safety.”
Welcome to the Shots, Tommy!
Ross McNeilly has been relieved of his First-Team duties.
Tommy Widdrington will take charge of First-Team affairs from our return to training on Monday.
We’d like to thank Ross for his hard work and effort and welcome Tommy to the Shots.#TheShots❤️💙
— Aldershot Town FC (@OfficialShots) April 2, 2023
Widdrington came into the Linnets as their manager in December 2021, as successor to Ian Culverhouse, and had been second from bottom of the National League at the time.
His first match in charge was the day after and saw his new side defeat bottom side Dover Athletic 2–1, but.Lynn’s relegation to the National League North was confirmed in the penultimate match of the 2021–22 season with a 3–3 draw with Eastleigh.
An impressive start to life back in the sixth tier, Widdrington was awarded the National League North Manager of the Month award for August 2022, earned 16 points from a possible 17 and even knocked League Two side Doncaster Rovers out of the first round of the FA Cup with a 1–0 win away from home.
Lynn have maintained strong form for much of this season, with it only in the last few weeks that they were overtaken at the top by AFC Fylde, who beat King’s Lynn 1-0 on the 21st of March 2023.
Fans hope that the remaining King’s Lynn coaching staff, Hugo Langton and Mark Hughes, will stay on in the dugout for the remainder of this season.
@officialKLtown tweeted: “The Club are disappointed to have been told by our manager Tommy Widdrington this evening that he is resigning in order to take up an alternative post at another club.
“Tommy is under contract with us, and the club in question have not contacted us to seek to reach an agreement and nor has Tommy sought to reach an agreement that would allow us to waive the contractual position.
“We very much hope a swift resolution will be reached, as an alternative to a legal process.
“Meanwhile, given Tommy has made it clear that he has resigned with immediate effect (irrespective of his contractual obligations to the Club) the search for a new manager begins now.”
A day before the announcement of his departure, he gave his usual weekly update…
SEE MORE: King’s Lynn manager restrained when confronting fan after defeat to AFC Fylde
This is what fans said with some in shock as the King’s Lynn manager resigns an hour after the 1-0 win to take up an alternative post at another club…
@pipathon: Can’t work out if this is real or not. April fools is only up till noon
@robbo84_kltfc: Respect what has been achieved since he came in – managerial change came too late last season in my opinion. But to shaft the club at this point in the season, just weeks after publicly slagging off fans, leaves a bad taste.
@chrismalcolm26: I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.
@theraffleboy: Couldn’t of happened to a nicer chairman of a club 😂
@philipplume: Got to be some job offer to be leaving so late in the season sitting in 2nd
@amy_reynolds123: Tommys lack of respect for the club, it’s players and all fans is a joke 🤐.
@Pinchy2906: Stephen Cleeves being shat on. Golden days
@tomhwilliams23: Can’t get my head round this. Only clubs that seem available are Tranmere, Rochdale or York (although confirmed MM staying to end of season) Rumours it could be #ytfc – again baffling. Other than Tranmere, all of the above will be at same level or below KL next year – madness
@cricketcelt: This is either the world’s most misguided April Fools or we’re about to witness some vintage Cleeve.
@TheHuishPOV: This is interesting. Not many posts available at the minute apart from in the football league and Widdrington has worked with Kevin Bond at Bristol Rovers. Could be nothing. #ytfc
@matthew_bartram: If this is an April fools joke it might just be the most badly executed one I’ve ever seen
@Michaelh2306: That’s a real disappointment, he sounds in recent weeks like he has had a Culverhouse style sulk. But gutted to see him go.
@FYLDEFANPAGE: @TheVanaramaNL are you seeing this? I hope the trophy is on its way
@linnet1976: April fools is only before midday……isn’t it????!!!
@NotNotlynnfan1: even lynn standards this is incredible 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@charliebufc: April Fools I’d believe but I think you’ll have gave a few Lynn fans heart attacks, maybe…
@JGC1892: Bring back the king @garysetchell
@AlanNea14196104: Absolutely amazing that a professional person behaves like that. So near the season end with a really good chance at promotion, unbelievable. Bet the other teams will be rubbing their hands hoping this will disrupt the team. Hopefully it will be the opposite. Good win UTL.
@GlynJ97: Kings Lynn falling apart 👀
https://t.co/4VpeRx5H2r pic.twitter.com/sBrsoxqlVJ
— John (@JohnLip04) April 1, 2023
https://t.co/lZq0n3aZWx pic.twitter.com/Nh39pOynog
— Callum (@FyldeCal) April 1, 2023
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