Woking sack their manager after eight defeats in 10 games

Woking sack their manager Darren Sarll after eight defeats in 10 games, following a 3-2 loss at Oxford City at the weekend.

The Cards currently sit 14th in the National League table, with 22 points from 19 games played.

Sarll had been appointed in March 2022 and guided Woking to fourth last year having previously been in charge at Yeovil.

The 40 year old, who spent his all of his playing days in non league football, previously managed in the EFL with Stevenage.

Woking’s poor run comes after they only lost twice in their opening 10 games this season.

Club Statement: Darren Sarll

— Woking Football Club (@wokingfc) November 13, 2023

Woking said in a statement: “Woking Football Club can confirm that it has relieved Manager Darren Sarll of his duties with immediate effect.

“The Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Darren for one of the Club’s most successful seasons in recent history and wish him well in his future endeavours both on and off the pitch.

“Assistant Manager Ian Dyer has been asked to take charge of the First Team for the upcoming home fixtures against Oldham and Chesterfield.

“No further comment will be made today.”

Sarll said post-match on Saturday: “Look any any game forget about the what the goals look like any game where you can see three goals to score four is tough especially in professional football or in professional sport, so um it definitely gives you a mountain the climb at 2-0 at half time, we believed we could um we could definitely turn the turn the result you know we really felt that we had those goals in us and then when you get that first one you start to build and unfortunately the third one absolutely takes it away and makes a an even steeper mountain the climb but the the the actual calibre of the goals I think follows a similar path personally don’t think they’re great goals we’re not um we’re not getting really carved open by anything um but we are making some some costly mistakes and um we were punishing them today

“I thought the first half followed that pattern though in throughout throughout I thought we was on top when we could see the first goal I think it was their first you know Venture I know I know it’s a mistake but I think it was the first time they’ve been in our box um and then uh I don’t know about our goal that was disallowed, if it’s disallowed because we you know we had a player offside okay, it’s if it’s disallowed and we were on side it’s another nice little video to send to the PGMOL on Monday morning but I’ve got a direct line to them at the moment so at some point that will have to stop and and then yeah like you said we got ourselves back in the game to 2-1 and um with the momentum and the territory we had the players that were then out on the pitch and yeah we had a real we had a real positive feeling that that we could go on win the game

On how he’d approach training on Monday: “I’m really positive assertive mostly when I’m coaching aggressive person but I always feel that the next really good moments around the corner and um and that’s what I believe I always believe that we encourage the players to believe that because why would why would we live our life coming into work every day and we’ve lost again oh no we’ve lost again oh no I made that mistake oh no I missed that chance I don’t choose to live my life and I don’t I try to choose um uh to not allow my teams to live like that the next good thing is round the corner, absolutely it always is you have to come through test in life in sport professional sport in particular, you have to keep rolling and taking the punches

This is how fans reacted as Woking sack their manager after eight defeats in 10 games…

@PyramidPodcast_: Victim of his own success? Darren Sarll is a very good national league manager. Intrigued to see who the Cards go for next 👀

@Harryduke123: Part of this clubs history forever, and we will never forget him for all of those unbelievable memories. Wrexham 2-1, and 2-2 a year later. Aldershot double. Oxford in the FA Cup. Chesterfield 3-1. Dorking 2-1. Maidstone last minute winner. And so many more

@9men: Mad how fast this has unraveled. Last season he made them so organised, clear identity, huge side with good athletes, very hard to beat, not pretty but who cares. This summer he just seemed to sign any player deemed “good” and completely undone his own work.

@WokingHazard: Thanks for the greatest season for a generation but it’s just not working this year.

@SamuelCol1115: Will never forget last season and the heights we reached, shame it’s ended this way but in Sarlls words exactly football is a business, good luck in the future

@The_PT_Way: Unfortunately that is football and it’s a results business. Just a real shame he couldn’t build on last season but it’s the right decision. All the best for the future Darren.

@Lumpymash: I loved last season, but we’ve gone completely backwards this season and look like relegation battlers. We’ve not even papered over the cracks with wins v Ramsgate & Oxford – we lost both, so it was inevitable. All the best for the future Darren & thanks 👍

@Dragon14: Unfortunately football is a results driven business and we’ve been struggling this season. Last season was truly fantastic. I’m sure Darren won’t be without a club for too long. #WokingFC

@charliecassen: The Alfie Pavey effect

@imraisbeck: The right decision – sadly. He gave us hope after last season, but poor recruitment with a healthy budget led to unacceptable results that couldn’t be ignored any longer. Best wishes for the future, Darren. Hope ID does well in the short term, but he’s surely culpable as well

@rohanfranklin_: Thanks for everything last season Darren. Time to move on, but we won’t forget the great times you gave us

@kieronraynes14: Thank you for all the great memories Darren, it was a pleasure watching the great team you put together last season. You’ve truly cemented yourself in Woking’s history achieving the play offs for the first time. Good luck with any future club you join!

@wheelchair13: Echoing the sentiments of many others here – will forever be grateful for the excitement of last season, and the energy, enthusiasm and optimism it breathed into the club. That forced the failures of this season into brighter light though. Thankyou and best of luck Darren 🔴⚪️

@adamvirgs19: Very sad to read seems to be a victim of his own success. An unbelievable achievement of 4th place last season and has taken the club on huge strides. Won’t be out of work very long no doubt will get a good job next. Wish him the very best in the future