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Barber gets the chop
Story courtesy of Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Phil Barber
Gresley Rovers coach Phil Barber has fallen victim to a round of cost cutting at the Moat Ground, just two-and-a-half months since he arrived as John McGinlay's assistant.
Rovers chairman Mark Evans said the "regrettable decision" had been made after discussions with McGinlay and in the interests of financial stability at the Moat. Barber is the only departure.Barber had arrived in South Derbyshire on New Years Day when McGinlay was appointed successor to sacked manager Brian Kenning.
He had worked as under-18 coach for the Manchester FA and experience with Maine Road, Flixton and Curzon Ashton.
Barber's coaching duties had been solely restricted to the Gresley first team and now the slack will be picked up by reserve team boss Alan Titterton and his own assistant, Gary Norton.
Said Evans: "We have to remember why we're here - to be a football club - but I said when I came to Gresley as chairman, an eye had to be kept on the accounts. We'd come from a position of huge debts and I do not want to return to that situation. There were perhaps other areas where we could have made savings but I felt we had to make the cut in this area. Phil was disappointed but the financial situation was explained to him when he was appointed and he understood. There are tough decisions to make and I have to be the one to make them. The decision is regrettable but one the manager fully supported."
Meanwhile, Rovers bounced back from their weekend drubbing by Blakenall to end a four match-losing run at the Moat Ground last night (Tues).
A Mark Peters goal gave Rovers the lead midway through the first half only for a blunder from on-loan keeper James Lindley to hand fifth-placed Redditch an equaliser four minutes later.
McGinlay said: "I asked for 100 percent and I got it from everyone."
