Alan Devonshire leaves Braintree

Iron_adam

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2015
Messages
69
Reaction score
12
Points
8
Supports
Braintree
Pulled this from our forum.
DEVS DECLINES OFFER FOR FIFTH YEARIron looking for new managerBraintree Town Football Club will be looking for a new manager for next season. On Saturday the Board offered Alan Devonshire an extension to his current employment on the same terms and, to assist with our preparations for next season, we asked for an answer by Thursday evening. Last night (Thursday) Alan declined our offer and the Club will now be seeking applications for the post.
Chairman Lee Harding said: "We had a lengthy chat with Alan on Saturday and advised him that we would like him to remain with us for a fifth year. Alan advised that he had been approached by third parties for next season and was not prepared to sign as he felt that he wanted to speak with them. We agreed to give him until Thursday evening to consider our offer, but he was still not prepared to sign. The Board have therefore decided to ask Mark Sansom to act in a caretaker role for Saturday's trip to Wrexham and at home to Altrincham a week on Saturday.
On behalf of all of us, I'd like to thank Alan for his efforts over the four seasons he was with us, more so this season when a number of injuries have made the job difficult.
But now the Board look forward to a new era and new challenges. We continue to make progress with our discussions on relocation. Both Braintree Council and the Club are taking time to ensure we get the arrangements right, but we have made real progress in recent weeks and hope to be in a position to make an announcement on our future in June.
As a club we like to think we have our feet on the ground. We've always said that we have ambition tempered with reality and want to play our football at the highest sustainable level. Our current stadium meets the entry requirements for the Football League, but a small fortune would need to be spent on further improvements, so we believe relocation to a purpose built stadium is the best way forward.
Over the coming weeks we will be looking for a new manager that can work with the Board to build a team on the pitch to compete and help prepare us for the challenges that lie ahead."

 

Gashead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
1,079
Reaction score
330
Points
83
Supports
Bristol Rovers
Wouldn't be surprised to see him at Wrexham if the opportunity arises - done a good job at Braintree over the last few years.
 

Luke Imp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
12,419
Reaction score
2,883
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Supports
Lincoln City
Wrexham went down that route with Wilkin, so I'd be surprised if they did so again.
 

DarkSithLord

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
11,121
Reaction score
3,359
Points
113
Location
Derbyshire
Supports
Alfreton
Twitter
@LiamHenton
Wouldn't be surprised to see him at Wrexham if the opportunity arises - done a good job at Braintree over the last few years.
True. But I am not sure what the Wrexham fans would think. Lets just say his football isnt always easy on the eye. With Wrexhams recent punt on kevin Wilkin backfiring Id suspect they are getting desperate to at least challenge for promotion and thus will be looking at someone with previous experience in getting a team out of this division.
 

Gashead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
1,079
Reaction score
330
Points
83
Supports
Bristol Rovers
Wrexham went down that route with Wilkin, so I'd be surprised if they did so again.

But I got the impression that Wilkin's problems were more due to 'losing the dressing room', where as at least Devonshire is at an age where he'd command authority I'd have thought.

True. But I am not sure what the Wrexham fans would think. Lets just say his football isnt always easy on the eye. With Wrexhams recent punt on kevin Wilkin backfiring Id suspect they are getting desperate to at least challenge for promotion and thus will be looking at someone with previous experience in getting a team out of this division.

Depends whether they want pretty football or results I suppose. Although I guess its not guaranteed that Devonshire would get the latter.
 

Murphy

Bloody Nice Chap
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
2,139
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
Norwich
Supports
Dagenham & Redbridge and Stephen Mulhern.
Twitter
@NickMurphy1995
If Colchester go down and they decide to chuck Tony Humes, I can see him going there. Pretty sure he's been heavily linked with the Col U job before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cas

dedwardp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
2,365
Reaction score
601
Points
113
Supports
Colchester United
If Colchester go down and they decide to chuck Tony Humes, I can see him going there. Pretty sure he's been heavily linked with the Col U job before.

Hope not. I think it is just the media putting two and two together though - local non-league manager and a chairman with a West Ham connection. Last time there were stories saying he was in talks but Braintree said we had made no contact, and Humes was appointed within hours of Dunne leaving as the succession plan was already in place.

Devonshire is the complete opposite of everything the chairman preaches about, so I can't see it thankfully. Already though there are plenty of comments about how he would "do a job" etc.
 

Sparrow

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
2,911
Reaction score
1,555
Points
113
Supports
Woking FC
Massive blow for Braintree. Devonshire worked miracles there for a number years on a limited budget, in front of poor crowds and usually on a rubbish pitch. The football was never attractive but it worked.
 

dedwardp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
2,365
Reaction score
601
Points
113
Supports
Colchester United
It will be interesting to see how Braintree go from here though, as there was a similar belief when Rod Stringer went to Bishop's Stortford just after their promotion. Is this the beginning of a slide back down or will they bring someone in who can progress them further?
 

Luke Imp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
12,419
Reaction score
2,883
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Supports
Lincoln City
But I got the impression that Wilkin's problems were more due to 'losing the dressing room', where as at least Devonshire is at an age where he'd command authority I'd have thought.
More than that I think but the Wrexham lot are better qualified to comment.

From the outside, it seemed he'd brought his Nuneaton approach to Wrexham i.e. sit back, and hope to knick a goal. Put that with it not working and suddenly a team who over the last 3 years have done well and expected to be 'there or thereabouts' this season also, ended up being lower mid-table.

It will be interesting to see how Braintree go from here though, as there was a similar belief when Rod Stringer went to Bishop's Stortford just after their promotion. Is this the beginning of a slide back down or will they bring someone in who can progress them further?
Not sure whether they can progress further? I suspect they're about at their limit, hence Devonshire leaving. He's probably looked at it and didn't thin he could do anything else there.
 

dedwardp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
2,365
Reaction score
601
Points
113
Supports
Colchester United
Not sure whether they can progress further? I suspect they're about at their limit, hence Devonshire leaving. He's probably looked at it and didn't thin he could do anything else there.

Oh, agree with that - I guess I just mean whether they either drop back down out of the Conference Premier or whether they can continue to consolidate around midtable or even a brief flirtation with the play-offs like last season. I think that would be progress.
 

rudebwoyben

Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
4,526
Reaction score
1,554
Points
113
Location
London WC1E
Supports
Barnet
Surely it depends if they do get this new stadium built as well.
 

Shrimpurh

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2015
Messages
2,492
Reaction score
373
Points
83
Supports
Southend
Brown-----> Pompey
Devonshire ------>Southend
 

Aberstone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
3,142
Reaction score
1,447
Points
113
Location
Luton
Supports
Wealdstone
Bearing in mind he doesn't drive and lives in West London I think he'll want something more local, Maidenhead is a good possibility with Johnson Hippolyte leaving at the end of the season.
 

Cardsfan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
3,106
Reaction score
875
Points
113
Supports
Woking
Bearing in mind he doesn't drive and lives in West London I think he'll want something more local, Maidenhead is a good possibility with Johnson Hippolyte leaving at the end of the season.
Why on earth would he leave Braintree for Maidenhead though, they are effectively Braintree in the division below (in terms of crowds, budget and quality - unless they can somehow offer him a lucrative contract?
 

Aberstone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
3,142
Reaction score
1,447
Points
113
Location
Luton
Supports
Wealdstone
New stand and a possible 3G pitch. He knows the Conference South and would have all the time in the world to make Maidenhead competitive, compared to treading water at Braintree every year.
 

Cheese & Biscuits

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2015
Messages
3,111
Reaction score
2,227
Points
113
Location
Yarkshire
Supports
Daggers
Surely he hasn't left without a possibility of a new job, has he? If it's a league club, perhaps Cheltenham? Even if they went down it's a fair step up for him.

With Burnett not guaranteed to be here next year, we'll probably be a rumoured destination.
 

Greenacres

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2015
Messages
2,390
Reaction score
1,062
Points
113
Location
West Country
Supports
Forest Green Rovers
Massive blow for Braintree. Devonshire worked miracles there for a number years on a limited budget, in front of poor crowds and usually on a rubbish pitch. The football was never attractive but it worked.

Spot on, games against Braintree were generally dreadful to watch, I have only seen one good game between us and the rest were largely dour affairs. He definitely worked wonders, he assembled a team that was often better than the sum of its parts, he is either a brilliant motivator or a miracle worker. He always employed tactics that disrupted their opponents style of play. Clearly we can't be certain why he has chosen not to stay at Braintree, but my guess is that he won't be out of work for very long, even if he has to wait until the starting pistol sounds on the sack-race next season.
 
Last edited:

dan_wrexhamafc

Active Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2015
Messages
719
Reaction score
65
Points
28
Supports
Wrexham
Will they fall apart or play really well today? I hope its the first for today, another embarrassing loss at home would just top off the season which would struggle to be any worse
 

Beee

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
92
Reaction score
8
Points
8
Supports
Barnet
New stand and a possible 3G pitch. He knows the Conference South and would have all the time in the world to make Maidenhead competitive, compared to treading water at Braintree every year.

With Braintree moving to a new ground within the next couple of years I'm not sure how a team way down the Conf South are in a better position than them, regardless of whether they're getting a 3G pitch or not.

I've been to watch Maidenhead several times over the past couple of seasons and they really struggle in that league. New stand apart their stadium is not Conference standard either.
 

Southern Shayman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2015
Messages
1,178
Reaction score
455
Points
83
Supports
Halifax Town
Only female manager I can think of that would be applying is Hope Powell and there were lots of rumours towards the end of her England reign that she was incompetent.

Can't help but think it's been dropped in for a bit of cover in the press
 

Chris FGR

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2015
Messages
11,176
Reaction score
5,469
Points
113
Supports
Forest Green
Left field appointments never work at this level.

What Braintree need is an experienced wily old operator who know their way around the Conference. Get it wrong and they'll be cut adrift quickly with a poorly assembled squad, before eventually seeing sense and appointing someone who knows this level well but ultimately coming in too late. Much like Nuneaton this season.
 

Sparrow

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
2,911
Reaction score
1,555
Points
113
Supports
Woking FC
Has done really well at Concord but not sure if he'll pull up many trees at Braintree. It's a big step up from Conference South.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
16,422
Messages
1,189,973
Members
8,392
Latest member
feby2112
Stronger Security, Faster Connections with VPN at IPVanish.com!

SITE SPONSORS

W88 W88 trang chu KUBET Thailand
Fun88 12Bet Get top UK casino bonuses for British players in casinos not on GamStop
The best ₤1 minimum deposit casinos UK not on GamStop Find the best new no deposit casino get bonus and play legendary slots Best UK online casinos list 2022
No-Verification.Casino Casinos that accept PayPal Top online casinos
sure.bet
Need help with your academic papers? Customwritings offers high-quality professionals to write essays that deserve an A!
Top