NON-LEAGUE NEWS: An emotional end-of-season announcement for the Trams, while the Rams are heading into Europe (sort of)
Mixed feelings: Liam Giles has stepped down as Croydon FC manager
Liam Giles has resigned as manager of the borough’s oldest non-league club, Croydon FC.
Giles made the announcement last night, just a matter of days after guiding the TRams to two finals in four days and the club’s first silverware in 15 years.
Croydon FC promptly posted an advertisement seeking a new first-team coach, sure to attract wannabe Pep Guardiolas…
Meanwhile, local rivals Croydon Athletic are preparing for a crucial play-off match this weekend, which will see them flying off to Europe… meaning Jersey.
For Croydon, and seemingly Giles, failing to make the play-offs in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division tempered some of the euphoria after winning the London Senior Trophy, beating Wimbledon Casuals 1-0 in the final.
Four defeats in their final four league games left the Trams marooned in eighth place, stuck in Step 6 where the club has languished since 2019, despite all of Giles’ and his staff’s efforts in two spells in charge during that time.
In a statement issued by Croydon’s board last night, they said: “Croydon FC have been in discussions with first team manager Liam Giles this week, who feels that following a season where he has brought silverware to the club for the first time in 15 years, it is time for him to move on and seek challenges elsewhere.
“We have greatly enjoyed working with Liam, his commitment to the club and efforts week-in week-out have been exceptional and it is entirely appropriate that we support him in what has been an emotional decision for him and very much wish him all the best.”
Battling to the end: Croydon Athletic have a massive play-off game on Saturday
In a statement issued on his own Twitter feed, Giles said, “The time has come for me to step away from my role as manager of Croydon FC. It truly is a special club and one that will always hold a special place in my heart…
“I am immensely proud to have brought silverware back to Croydon Arena for the first time in 15 years.
“I would like to thank the board for their continued support since I came back to the club. Thank you to all of my players, staff and, of course, the Trams Barmy Army.”
The Croydon board has to move quickly: it is at this time in the year when non-league clubs have to decide which players they retain or release, and they will need any new boss to have a say in that process. The board has set a deadline for applications of next Monday, May 6.
Over at Mayfield Road, Athletic – the club taken over last year by Stormzy, Wilf Zaha and Danny Young – clinched fifth place and a play-off spot with three wins from their final three matches of the regular season in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South.
The Rams had transformed their results since the arrival as manager in the autumn of Jermaine McGlashan, and goals in the past couple of months from new signing Richard Pingling got them over the line.
That’s earned them a play-off semi-final trip on Saturday to Jersey Bulls, who finished second in the division. But the Rams’ confidence from their impressive late-season form should see them go into the crunch game with few fears.
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
