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Frank sacks coach
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers coach Phil Marandola arrived back from a business trip abroad yesterday afternoon – and promptly discovered he had been sacked.
The shock news was broken to the commercial vehicles salesman in a series of phone calls made by players to his Wolverhampton home.Marandola said: “I’m dumfounded and very angry. The whole business is totally out of order.”
The decision to dismiss Marandola was taken by Rovers boss Frank Northwood – the man who hired him 14 months ago. Players were told of the move before Tuesday night’s training session at the Moat Ground.
Northwood blasted: “I don’t think it’s good for the club, the players or our supporters that this business is dragged into the open like this. I’m not having my right-hand man going round stabbing me in the back. I’m the boss. I hire and fire coaches and players and as far as I am concerned the decision was taken in the best interests of the club. End of story.
Marandola, the fifth coach to leave Gresley under the Northwood regime, claimed: “Frank’s been gunning for me for quite a while. He’s been telling people that I’m after his job, but that’s simply just not true.
“I’ve always been happy for Frank to take the praise as long as he allowed me to do what I enjoy most – and that’s working with the players. He knows that I’ve got the respect of the lads. We were superb in pre-season, but as soon as he stuck his oar in on the coaching side it all went out of the window.
“The whole thing is a total disgrace because, make no mistake about it, the majority of people at Gresley want Frank out. The man is under pressure but he’s got a hold on a couple of people up there and they are keeping him in a job.”
Rovers’ chairman Peter Hall refused to be drawn into the controversy. He said: “Frank employed Phil Marandola and he didn’t need the committee’s approval to dismiss him. He did have a word with me and that’s really all I want to say on the matter.”
Frank has also pruned his squad by releasing four players.
Midfielder Jon Laws and striker Keith Hill have linked up with Beazer Midland Division clubs Tamworth and Dudley Town respectively.
Two other midfield players – Jack Oldershaw and Wayne Secker – are aloe looking for other clubs.
