Luke Goddard and Lee Duckworth have announced they are stepping down as Alsager Town’s co-managers in a joint statement, with the pair feeling the club do not share their ambitions.
Goddard and Duckworth’s success with the Bullets
Goddard and Duckworth only became managers in May and June respectively, but they have decided their time at the Bullets must come to an end.
It has been a successful season to date for Goddard and Duckworth. Although Alsager have been knocked out of multiple cup competitions in the first round, they have been exceptional in the league and sit third, despite a recent dip in form.
But the managers have not had an easy time at the club, with many first team players leaving to join rival clubs, from brilliant wingers like Ash Leather, to shot stoppers such as Ellis Allen.
Goddard and Duckworth’s statement
The managerial duo announced their decision to resign as managers on Monday night in the following statement:
“Following recent discussions we have come to the decision to step down from our roles as first team managers at Alsager Town Football Club.
“We don’t believe this should be seen as a negative, in fact we are immensely proud of the records and platform we have been able to produce in the first half of the campaign given the challenge we took on back in June.
“The club’s remit was to build a squad of players from scratch & keep the clubs status at step six in the hope a platform is built for the future to then push forward in time. We have exceeded expectations and remit the board set when taking on the opportunity with limited resources aligned with their goal of remaining at step six.
“We leave the club third in the table just six points off the top of the league. With just three defeats and with 16 games left it’s a fantastic opportunity to achieve yet more history and records.
“Following ongoing discussions we believe the club is on a different path to our own personal ambitions, which we’ve been very transparent about.
“We have nothing but huge respect for the hardworking volunteers at the club, who have been great. We feel the time now would be best utilised to push forward with a new management team for the good of the club’s future and to be set for next season and beyond.
“We asked the club to respect that decision & all be proud of what has been a joint effort in what has been built here so far.
“We are immensely proud to have been given the opportunity to lead Alsager Town Football Club. Finally a big thank you to the Bullets faithful that have been supportive and we hope all of the playing staff will remain to continue the exciting season.”
Goddard’s additional comments
Speaking exclusively to Alsager News, Goddard reiterated his and Duckworth’s message, explaining that the club does not share the head coach duo’s ambitions.
He said: “There’s no hard feelings or much need to elaborate. Just looking forward beyond six months, I sadly don’t think the club would be aligned to what we want.
“I’m not sure what the club wants. Sadly in football sometimes you hit these moments. We feel it’s the right time to let them move forward.
“That’s football and I really hope they can finish off the job. It’s a lovely committee and we met some really nice folk.”
The club chairman’s take on the resignations
Alsager Town chairman, Terry Greer, has spoken to Alsager News, saying that the club being on a different path to the co-managers’ personal ambitions is ‘not completely accurate’.
He said: “What they [Goddard and Duckworth] have said is that if we win promotion, they don’t want to manage in the Midland league and if we don’t win promotion, they don’t want to manage in this league again.
“So they felt it was better to go now than stay when there is nothing to build for.”
In terms of whether the Bullets will look for a new permanent manager or a caretaker to take them to the end of the season, Mr Greer has revealed that there are ‘a couple of irons in the fire,’ but that the future is not yet certain
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