NON-LEAGUE NEWS: Croydon FC have moved to appoint new joint managers after a series of defeats, and an exodus of first team players
New team: Alex White (right) and Ryan Watts have been recruited by Croydon from Thamesmead
There’s turmoil at the Trams, as they head into 2025 under their third, and their fourth, managers of the season so far.
The club issued a statement late on Saturday to announce that they “are delighted to confirm that Ryan Watts and Alex White will be joining us as joint managers”.
Just a few hours earlier, the Southern Counties East League side had just lost their latest first division game at Elmstead 2-0, their fifth defeat in succession since the appointment of Wayne Bullen to the top job in November.
The run of defeats had seen the Trams knocked off the division’s top spot, and has placed in jeopardy the club’s hopes of, finally, securing promotion from Tier 10 of the football pyramid after six years.
Fortunes quickly turned for the worst in what chairman Gavin English had proclaimed to be “Wayne’s World”, when the club’s assistant manager stepped up following the abrupt departure of the club’s first manager this term, Antonio Gonnella.
New Year task: Croydon go into 2025 in fifth place in the SCEFL Div 1 table, having led by five points in November
Gonnella had only taken over at Croydon Arena in May, but had made a flying start to his time at the Trams with a 12-match unbeaten run placing them top of the league table and five points clear of all rivals.
Gonnella left to take over as manager at Forest Hill Park, and was followed by half a dozen of the Croydon first-team squad, with the club unable to do anything about it.
Forest Hill are now second in the division.
Watts and White have been recruited from SCEFL rivals Thamesmead, where they began as joint managers at the start of this season. Thamesmead end 2024 in seventh place in the SCEFL Div 1 table.
Croydon have slipped down the table to fifth, though as skipper Kieran Rufus noted on Saturday night, it is “the highest position the club has been in for many years”.
The desperate reversal in form was inexplicable: Bullen had accompanied Gonnella when he was recruited from Whyteleafe in the spring to replace Liam Giles, and was working with largely the same squad of players who had previously swept aside all rivals.
All change: the latest managerial appointment announcement from Croydon FC
Watts is a former Trams player, while White’s father played for the club.
Just before midnight on Saturday, the statement issued by chairman English on behalf of the club said: “The pair made an impressive application for the job at the start of the season and although we went in a different direction, we are excited to welcome them on board at this stage.
“We would like to place on record our thanks and admiration for Wayne Bullen who took the reins at an incredibly difficult time and gave us total commitment and loyalty. We are hopeful Wayne will remain within our club in some capacity, not least because he had his very own song!”
And English made reference to the mangerial merry-go-round that had begun with Gonnella’s departure: “Having recently experienced losing our manager to a rival team we understand the frustration SC Thamesmead and their supporters may be feeling, but we always act in the best interests of our club and ever-loyal supporters.”
Croydon FC’s next fixture is at home at Croydon Arena this Saturday, January 4, against Welling Town.
Following last Saturday’s defeat, Rufus had tweeted, “2024 ends and its been a positive one for Croydon FC. The first trophy won since 2009 and also finishing 2024 in the highest position the club has been for many years.
“Thank you to every supporter, been our 12th man in every game… 2025 is our year, trust me on that.”
Read more: Gonnella’s table-topping Trams on fast track towards promotion
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There is no loss of form, it’s a completely different team. Not that the Club could do anything about it.
Since early November the club has been raided by Forest Hill Park who have a big backer (and no overheads) and around seven players and the manager followed the apparent pot of gold being waved in front of them.
Croydon’s refusal to play silly games by paying more than they can afford is to be applauded, if very frustrating. Look at recent history, how many clubs pay more than they have available. And then those who drop them in the mire disappear into the sunset leaving others to clear up their mess. It has happened to the club previously. Hence my caution back in November when others were getting very excited. You never know what football has in store
Agree with Stephen, the writing was on the wall when Giles left, the procession followed. Loyalty doesn’t exist in local football when money is involved. Hard to pick a side in the argument though as people need to make a living. Oh well, another promising season ending in mediocrity.