'I Certainly Enjoyed My Time': A Heartfelt Goodbye from Southport FC Manager

Dear ‘The Southport Family’

Now the dust has settled and I’ve had a few days to process my time at Southport FC, I wanted to say a few words.

Wednesday morning brought an unfortunate end to my 18 months in charge at such a great Football Club. I have really enjoyed my time at Southport FC and leave with a heavy heart. I had a great feeling about the club and its people from day one and it’s been my absolute pleasure to manage and represent Southport FC and its local community.

I must first of all thank Liam Watson and Ian Kyle for bringing me to the club at the end of August 2023. There was some negativity both on and off the park at the time of my arrival with the club rooted to the bottom of the league with one point and 7 points away from safety, but also financial issues away from the pitch. Having spoken to Liam and Ian about the club’s difficulties it was clear that they and a few other people behind the scenes, had done an outstanding job of keeping the club running and functioning day to day and they deserve massive credit for that.

The club needed an injection of positivity and that came quickly with a few results on the pitch and the team soon moving out of the relegation positions and also off it, with The Big Help Group stepping forward to purchase the club from Ian and putting plans in place for a brighter future for all SFC fans and the local community. I have nothing but positive words for all at the BHG. I enjoyed working for the Chairman Peter Mitchell, he is a man I have utmost respect for and I always enjoyed his company. Wednesday morning was uncomfortable for both Peter and I, but he conducted our meeting with the utmost professionalism and respect and I thank him for that, that’s not always the case in Football. His family and all the people at the BHG involved at SFC are decent, honest and respectful and I’d like to thank them for their support and friendship during my time at the club and hopefully our paths cross in the future.

Amongst those people at BHG are Andy and Tammy Burgess, I have loved working alongside them and again have massive respect for both and would like to thank them for all their support and help during my time as manager, not just professionally but on a personal level also.

I’ve been privileged to have had a great support staff, far too many to mention individually but a special mention to my coach Alan Morgan, a friend of many years and an outstanding person who unfortunately leaves with me and another who only has good things to say about everyone connected with SFC. Also, a mention for Hamish and his wife Christine, lifelong fans and volunteers of the club. They give so much and I’d like to thank them both for their support and for making me feel welcome from the very first time I set foot in the club shop on day one until I gathered my belongings on Thursday afternoon when Hamish and I enjoyed a cuppa and a chat, they are Southport through and through!

Also mentions to others past or present on the footballing side who have supported me throughout my time, Danny, Morgs, Shaun, Jake, Simon, Tommy, Tony Mc and Marvin and others behind the scenes Rob and Julia, Joe C, Mark, Jules, Steve D, Craig, Pottsey, Darren, Simon C, Dave and Craig, the security staff, hospitality staff, Bar staff, all the volunteer’s and anyone else who has helped and supported me throughout my time in charge, there are too many to mention but a massive Thankyou to you all, it’s very much appreciated.

A big Thankyou to all the players also who have played under me during my time in charge, some have left and some are still there but I appreciate all their efforts no matter how big or small part they played, I am grateful to them all. I am proud of the part I played in helping turn last season around after such a difficult start, from the very first win at Hereford after a couple of days in the job until the last day defeat at South Shields. It was a journey we enjoyed together with lots of ups and downs along the way but the job got done against all the odds, surviving that dreaded drop finishing comfortably above the bottom 4 and looking to progress.

This season brought plenty of optimism with the positivity of the BHG and some good summer signings to add to the good players who we already had in the squad. Pre-season was a success, good team and individual performances enhanced that feel good factor even more and the trip to Belfast to play Cliftonville FC closed our pre-season preparations in perfect fashion.

We started well with two victories against Alfreton at home and Needham away on that red hot day in Suffolk. We then became abit up and down, but big wins against full time fancied sides like South Shields and Scunthorpe saw us reach 5th in the division with an opportunity to go even higher against Peter’boro Sports at home in the next match which we unfortunately lost 2-1 to 10 men, a hammer blow which did have a negative effect on the team. Since then, we have underperformed after such a good first third of the season. Although we’ve been in most games and showed signs of getting back on track with recent victories against Curzon, Farsley and Alfreton, abit of bad luck here and there, Injuries, illness and a lack of form to individual players has cost us and saw us drift down the division. It’s all left me very frustrated, disappointed and at times angry and I know everyone associated with the club shares them feelings. I have worked hard and passionately but unfortunately; it’s a results business and we simply haven’t been good enough of late in that department after that early season promise and as a manager, you have to accept responsibility and now I have sadly fallen on one’s sword!

I have spoken to Dave Morgan and passed on my best wishes to him and the players for the coming games starting at Rushall on Saturday, which I’m hopeful the lads can get back to winning ways which I’m sure they will. I’m also hoping the club can finish strongly including a couple of successes in the local cup competitions. I’d also like to put on record my best wishes to the incoming management team, I wish them well and they will be in charge of a great Football club.

Lastly and most importantly, I want to say a massive thankyou to you all, the heartbeat of any football club, the fans! From day one, I’ve felt the support and I will always appreciate that. From when I attended the game against Chorley just before joining the club, I knew you were a good bunch. The team lost that day disappointingly and were in last place of the table, but the way you got behind the players and staff and clapped them off the pitch was absolutely outstanding. We have enjoyed some good memories together that I will always look back on with pride but being honest, I’m gutted I couldn’t give you more. It’s not always the case in football when someone leaves a football club, but I do honestly and genuinely wish you all the luck in the world for the future and hope the club goes from strength to strength and enjoys plenty of success along the way.

In my opinion, life is about people and in Southport FC there are some outstanding people. I have made friends for life, I certainly enjoyed my time there and again, I wish you all the very best of luck for the future. I will certainly be supporting from a far and will always look out for the club’s results.

Onwards & upwards, Up the Port!!