Frecks to leave Gladiators at the end of the season
Dave Frecklington will take charge of Matlock Town for the final time on Saturday when the Gladiators travel to Stafford Rangers for their final game of the season.
Frecklington and Chairman Tom Wright had a chat after the shock heavy 6-0 home defeat by Buxton on Easter Monday and agreed that a change of manager would be best for all parties.
Lincoln based Frecklington took over from Dave Hoole in September 2018 with Matlock struggling near the foot of the table and although three defeats followed in his first three games in charge, he along with coach Terry Fleming and assistant Chris Rawlinson oversaw a successful run of only one defeat between the beginning of October until New Years Day. The Gladiators were in with a shout of the play off places.
But 2019 has proved to be a difficult year so far with only two league wins (the victory over the now defunct North Ferriby United excepted) and the Gladiators now find themselves in the bottom half of the league table.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Frecklington said it was an amicable parting of the ways.
“We fulfilled what was asked of us by keeping the football club in this division but 2019 has been difficult with the injury list, our lack of form and the matter of the three hours round trip from Lincoln three times a week. I had a chat with the Chairman and we both agreed that it’s in the interests of all parties if we go our separate ways. Matlock Town’s a great football club and we leave on amicable terms with no animosity whatsoever. The job involves a lot of hard work and people don’t see and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. We achieved safety with four games left to play and also having to lose six points and a plus four goal difference to boot giving teams around us an advantage but a magnificent 3-1 away win at Marine achieved safety.”
Although his tenure was a relatively short one, Frecklington added that he will have fond memories of his spell with the Gladiators.
“Terry, Chris and me received a warm welcome from a lot of people involved with the club and the fans have been great. We’ll look back on our time here knowing we achieved what we were asked to do and made a lot of new friends.”
Mr Wright echoed Frecklington’s views.
“ Dave came in and did a brilliant job when we went on that great run up to Christmas. Unfortunately the results tailed off since the turn of the year and it’s been a difficult and frustrating time not only for Dave, Terry and Chris, but for the football club in general. I think it’s the best for all concerned and everyone at the club thanks Dave, Chris and Terry for their hard work and dedication in their time here. We wish them all the best in their future managerial careers.”
Applicants for the vacant managerial position at Matlock should contact Tom Wright on 07850 065968 e mail tom.116@hotmail.co.uk or Chief Executive Keith Brown 0n 07831 311427, e mail keith61brown@yahoo.co.uk
Ian Richardson