Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Matlock Town have announced that manager Paul Phillips has left the club by mutual consent.
The shock news was revealed by the Gladiators on Thursday evening and the decision has surprised a large number of the Matlock fan base.
Phillips guided Matlock Town to a fourth place finish in the NPL Premier Division last season which saw them qualify for the play-offs for the first time in 15 years. Their dreams of promotion to the National League North ended after a one-legged play-off semi-final where they were defeated 2-1 at Scarborough Athletic. Matlock have had a mixed start to the current 2022/23 campaign. The Gladiators are currently in 12th position in the table after six games played; winning two, drawing two and losing two. Phillips's last game in charge of the Gladiators was the Bank Holiday Monday match at home against Gainsborough Trinity in the league. The Gladiators drew 1-1 thanks to a last-gasp goal in stoppage time from Alex Byrne.
Three days after that game, Matlock Town FC issued the following statement on their website and social media channels:
Matlock Town and manager Paul Phillips have agreed to part company by mutual consent.
Chairman Jay Beaumont announced the news on Thursday evening after a meeting with the playing staff at training.
Phillips had been in the hot seat at The Proctor Cars Stadium since January 2020 after the departure of Steve Kittrick.
Mr Beaumont added "I would personally like to convey mine and the Committee's thanks for all the hard work Paul Phillips has done in his time at the club. We wish Paul and his family all the best for the future. The club is presently working hard to appoint Paul's successor and we'll be making no further comment at the present time."
The Gladiators are at home to Derbyshire rivals Ilkeston Town in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Assistant boss Kayde Coppin and goalkeeper coach Steve Shuttleworth will be in charge.
Around the same time, Paul Phillips issued his own statement via his personal Twitter account:
Unfortunately, today I have resigned as manager of Matlock Town Football Club.
Over the last few weeks, several factors have come to light which make it clear that the club wishes to go in a different direction and that they can no longer match the ambitions of myself or my staff.
I would like to place on record my thanks to my players/staff and the supporters first and foremost - also the previous chairman for giving the opportunity to manage this great club. I have enjoyed every minute of my time here and feel I have not only changed the ambition of the supporters but also the identity of the club itself; there is no more little Matlock and I feel the town now has a club it can be proud of again.
I would also like to extend a special thank you to both Bryn Apperley and Dennis Hobson who not only put their faith in me and backed me, but both have become personal friends away from football.
So, as we part ways, can I ask you continue to support the players as you have done, and I wish you all every success for the future.
Thanks for all the support.
Phillips was appointed Matlock Town's manager in January 2020 following the sacking of Steve Kittrick. Under Kittrick, the Gladiators had been sucked into a relegation battle. Before Paul had even officially managed his first game for the Derbyshire outfit, Matlock midfielder Jordan Sinnott died in tragic circumstances. The bombshell news stunned everyone at the club and affected everyone hugely. It will never be known if Phillips would have kept Matlock up in the 2019/20 season as the campaign was officially declared null and void in March by the Northern Premier League due to the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. The strains and difficulties of trying to manage a non-league club transferred over to the following season when the campaign was once again declared null and void due to the huge number of problems that the pandemic was still causing. By that point in early January, Matlock had only been able to play six league games of the ill-fated 2020-21 season before everything had to be stopped for good once again in uniquely trying circumstances.
The following 2021/22 season turned out to be Phillips's only full season in charge of Matlock Town where the season was able to end in traditional circumstances. Matlock flew out of the blocks and were top of the table at various points in the campaign. They were still top of the tree in the final week of January following an excellent 2-1 home victory over promotion rivals Bamber Bridge. Unfortunately, following that game, goals for the Gladiators seriously dried up in the final third of the season which derailed their hopes of a league title and automatic promotion. Matlock secured a play-offs spot on the final day of the regular season following a 2-0 victory over Warrington Town at Causeway Lane. It was Matlock's first play-offs finish in a decade and a half and sparked huge scenes of celebration at The Proctor Cars Stadium.
Lack of goals continued to be a problem for the start of this current season. After six games played, Matlock only registered four goals which has shaped their mediocre start to the 2022/23 season and dogged Phillips's last few months at the Gladiators.
It will be fascinating to see where Matlock Town go from here. The appointment of the next manager will be a huge decision as the Gladiators need to maintain the ambition that they have shown in the past couple of years following a long run of stagnant years where Matlock would often be merely also-rans in the NPL Premier Division.
It will also be intriguing to see how the next manager will utilise a squad where every single one of the players was brought in by Phillips. Key players like Ryan Qualter, Reece Kendall and Mark Lees were all brought to Matlock by the recently departed gaffer.
Matlock Town's next game is this coming Saturday at home against Ilkeston Town in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Assistant manager Kayde Coppin and goalkeeping coach Steve Shuttleworth will take charge of the Gladiators for this cup tie but it is currently unknown what the arrangements will be after this game.
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