On This Day – 26th September

On this day in 2017, Alan Lewer and Mark Wright leave the club by mutual consent.

Earlier in the month Phil Hodgkinson was announced to have joined the board of directors on the day of Southport’s visit to Stockport County.

Despite the air of optimism the Sandgrounders capitulate and find themselves on the wrong end of a 6-0 scoreline, which is quickly followed up by 4 consecutive defeats. It is a dramatic down-turn in form and, in desperate defence, Alan Lewer uses a post-match interview to state that future signings will be made by him. With Hodgkinson so critical of Wright and Lewer’s appointments prior to joining the board, it came as little surprise that there would be friction once the pair reported into him. It was a comment which confirmed to many that the writing was on the wall and by the end of September the short reign of Lewer and Wright was over. 

Southport Football Club have today parted company with First Team Manager Alan Lewer by mutual consent. Following this decision, Head of Development Mark Wright also requested his contract be terminated by mutual consent, to which the club have agreed.

Ian Kyle said: “We would like to thank Mark & Alan for their hard work and dedication over the last few months, however, on the back of recent performances on the pitch, The Chairman & Board of Directors felt it in the best interests of the club and the Management team to move in a different direction.

“Mark & Alan were an instrumental part of our early season success, and we would like to extend our thanks and best wishes to them both and wish them every success in the future.” 

The club will now begin the process of advertising the positions of First Team Manager and First Team Coach, and engage in a thorough and measured approach to those appointments.

In the interim, Club Captain Steven Schumacher and Goalkeeping Coach Iain Turner will take charge of first-team matters.

Southportfc.net

SOUTHPORT manager Alan Lewer has left the club by mutual consent following their 3-0 defeat against Nuneaton Town on Saturday.

Lewer is joined in departure by head of development Mark Wright, who also requested his contract be terminated.

The decision came after Southport failed to win any of their last five games – a run which has subsequently left them in 14th position in the National League North league table.

In that run, Southport conceded 19 goals, scoring just once, and exited the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage.

Lewer has suffered a number of injuries throughout his reign as manager but all-inall the performances from Southport simply weren’t good enough despite an encouraging start to the campaign.

In a statement on the club’s website, director Ian Kyle said: “We would like to thank Mark (Wright) and Alan (Lewer) for their hard work and dedication over the last few months.

“However, on the back of recent performances on the pitch, the chairman and board of directors felt it in the best interests of the club and the management team to move in a different direction.

“Mark and Alan were an instrumental part of our earlyseason success, and we would like to extend our thanks and best wishes to them both and wish them every success in the future.”

The statement concluded that they are already advertising for the positions of first-team manager and first team development coach.

In the meantime, club captain Steven Schumacher and goalkeeping coach Iain Turner will take charge of Southport’s upcoming fixtures.

Lewer’s last game in charge was Southport’s 3-0 defeat against Nuneaton and he felt the club are still missing an outright goalscorer.

He also admitted it was difficult dealing with the vast number of squad injuries but felt his side should have come away with something from the game.

“I was disappointed. In the first 10 minutes, we should have been 2-0 up. We don’t look like scoring but we’re creating chances,” Lewer said following the defeat.

“There’s lack of confidence and we’re missing the senior players. It shows you need that experience to turn things around.

“It causes you concerns when you have injuries. We had a team spirit to die for and it ruins that a little when you have to bring people in and out.

“We had three players who probably would have started that were missing but you have to get on with it and move on.

“We are still striving to get Southport in the playoffs. We might have to bring a coupl ple more players to achieve th that.

“We need a goalscorer th that’s for sure. We may ne need another centre-half an and we might need an another midfielder or a w winger.”

Lewer will not get the o opportunity to bring in players of that description but it could serve Southp port well if they were to h heed his advice.

Schumacher and Turner have their hands full until Southport names a new manager but the next boss coming in certainly has their work cut out to turn things around.

Southport Visiter, 28th September 2017

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