Sunday, 12th October 2008

News Archive

23rd October 2003
Tommy Callinan left Cinderford Town in shock when he resigned as manager after Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat by Yate Town.

Having been in the job for little more than a year, Callinan decided that it was time for a new man to take control at The Causeway. The Foresters chairman, Ashley Saunders, was unable to convince Callinan that he should stay on as manager.

"It was a shock that Tommy resigned and we tried to persuade to stay on, but Tommy has his own mind and felt it was time to go," said Saunders.

"We are all disappointed that Tommy has gone because he has done a good job for us and was in the process of building a good side.

"Unfortunately, in some of the games we have fallen by the wayside but in others we have been playing well.

"It is like we have been a Jekyll and Hyde team this season."

Callinan's departure comes at the end of a run of three defeats with a 1-0 loss at home to Yate turning out to be his last game in charge.

The Foresters are fifth from bottom and, having played more games than most sides in the Dr Martens Western Division, they are in danger of being dragged into the bottom two.

Callinan took charge at The Causeway in October 2002 following the departure of Tony Hopkins, but inconsistency in results have plagued Cinderford.

The Foresters have only won three of their 13 league games this season - falling to eight defeats - and they crashed out of the FA Cup in the preliminary round, although Callinan has steered Cinderford into the first round of the FA Trophy.

Last season the record was not much better for the Foresters having won only nine matches in 35 games and fallen to 17 defeats.

But Saunders will not be rushing to bring in a new manager.

"It could be a couple of days or even a couple of weeks but we are looking for somebody like Tommy," said Saunders.

"Hopefully, he will be around the club for a while, helping out until we find a new manager and taking training tonight because I know he wouldn't like to see the club suffer - that is type of person Tommy is."

The Foresters may make an approach for former boss Chris Smith, but Saunders has refused to be drawn into speculation about who may take charge at The Causeway.

Smith, who recently turned down the Swindon Supermarine job following the resignation of former Cirencester Town manager Ray Baverstock, was in charge of the Gloucestershire county side last season.

He left the county job in the hope of getting back into the every day job of football management.

His club resume includes a spell at The Causeway for one season during the 2000-01 campaign.

Smith also spent five years as a player-coach at Nationwide Conference side Forest Green Rovers and has also been with Dr Martens Premier Division sides Newport County and Weston-super-Mare.

Smith said: "I am surprised that Tommy has left because he had built a good side there and I am sure things would have started to turn around."

As for the vacant post at Cinderford, Smith has refused to rule out a possible return to The Causeway.

Source: www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk

Click here for a printer friendly version

Discuss this story on the Fans Forum.

Rovers Make A Point On The Road

Lincoln Pre-match News

At home to:
Willenhall Town (UniBond President's Cup 2nd Round)

Tuesday 14th October, 7.45pm

View previous encounters with Willenhall Town