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EXCLUSIVE - Liam Watson quits Southport FC
EXCLUSIVE - Liam Watson quits Southport
Liam Watson today stunned Southport Football Club by quitting as first team manager.
Watson called a shock halt to his two-and-a-half year tenure at Haig Avenue following showdown talks with chairman Charlie Clapham on Tuesday afternoon.
After being broken in the evening by Southport.gb.com, the news was soon confirmed by official sources - sending supporters into bewilderment.
Liam Watson
Having hauled the Sandgrounders from the brink of abyss, Watson is seen by many as the man who single-handedly masterminded the resurrection of an ailing club. The 35-year old, who became Southport’s youngest ever boss in 2003, restored Nationwide Conference football to Haig Avenue in his first full season, having taken the reigns of a side languishing tenth in the Northern Premier League.
Loved for his refreshing honesty and unique rapport with supporters, the former Preston North End striker who previously managed at Runcorn, had shown no prior signs of his intention to walk away. As recently as Thursday, Watson was talking publicly about his plans for the forthcoming campaign, indicating he required twelve full-time additions to the squad to ensure the Sandgrounders progressed.
On preserving their Conference status in extraordinary fashion, Southport are in the process of devising plans to turn professional. But although Watson had been expected to remain in his existing capacity, chairman Clapham today insisted that ‘a part time manager in a full time club was not going to work’.
Chairman Charlie Clapham
‘After a great deal of consideration at todays meeting I felt it right to call time on my managerial role at Southport’, said Watson. ‘I genuinely leave with pride in my achievements at Southport and now it is time the club move on again.’
‘I have experienced great times at Southport and leave with my head high plus my friendship with the chairman intact. However with a career outside football, a wife and young family I had to make a major decision. I have been juggling too many balls.’
‘The supporters have been so special to me and the players. I hope to have left a legacy that can be built on. Both myself and my son our now Southport supporters and in the future we will be at Haig Avenue in that capacity.
‘I need a break from football but will want to get back as a part time manager in the future. I wish whoever takes over as full time manager all the best. It has been an honour to manage a club with so much potential.
‘By securing our Nationwide Conference status my time has come to an end but the club will benefit greatly by going full time. It was the only way.’
Chairman Clapham, who will now go in search for his fifth manager in seven seasons, paid tribute to Watson. ‘This has been a sad day’, he said.
‘Liam remains my friend but we both recognised a part time manager in a full time club was not going to work no matter how we tried to look at it.
‘I have the highest regard for Liam. He can be very proud of his achievements at Haig Avenue. I respect Liam’s decision and Liam has recognised in his own mind what would benefit the club the most and that was a full time manager. It has been a painful decision for all of us. As a club we will have to manage a major transition from part time to full time and that is a demanding full time role. The timing was right for the future of the club and Liam knew that. It is rare to have a managerial change in such amicable circumstances.’
(Alan Jones)
PRESS STATEMENT FROM SOUTHPORT FC:
WATSON LEAVES PORT IN FRIENDLY DEPARTURE
Following a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with chairman Charlie Clapham it was mutually agreed that Liam Watson would resign his position with immediate effect as manager of Southport Football Club. Liam Watson was the youngest manager in Southport’s history when appointed in 2003 and has managed the club in the Unibond, Nationwide North and Nationwide Conference.
Watson manager of the Sandgrounders for two and half years enjoyed tremendous success winning the Nationwide North title in 2004-05 and against the odds as a part time club achieving survival in the virtual full time world of the Nationwide Conference. And that has been the issue for Watson as Southport go full time themselves this close season. Watson said “I have experienced great times at Southport and leave with my head high plus my friendship with the chairman intact. However with a career outside football, a wife and young family I had to make a major decision. I have been juggling too many balls. After a great deal of consideration at todays meeting I felt it right to call time on my managerial role at Southport. I genuinely leave with pride in my achievements at Southport and now it is time the club move on again. The supporters have been so special to me and the players. I hope to have left a legacy that can be built on. Both myself and my son our now Southport supporters and in the future we will be at Haig Avenue in that capacity. I need a break from football but will want to get back as a part time manager in the future. I wish whoever takes over as full time manager all the best. It has been an honour to manage a club with so much potential. By securing our Nationwide Conference status my time has come to an end but the club will benefit greatly by going full time. It was the only way”
Chairman Charlie Clapham added “This has been a sad day. Liam remains my friend but we both recognised a part time manager in a full time club was not going to work no matter how we tried to look at it. I have the highest regard for Liam. He can be very proud of his achievements at Haig Avenue. I respect Liam’s decision and Liam has recognised in his own mind what would benefit the club the most and that was a full time manager. It has been a painful decision for all of us. As a club we will have to manage a major transition from part time to full time and that is a demanding full time role. The timing was right for the future of the club and Liam knew that. It is rare to have a managerial change in such amicable circumstances. ”
Southport.gb.com understands that there are four people short listed for the vacant Southport FC Manager position.
They are - Andy Mutch, Jimmy Quinn, Jim Harvey and Paul Cook.
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All I can say (whilst in shock) is GOOD LUCK Liam and THANK YOU.
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Thats a real shame. I really thought he was the man to lead us back into the football league.
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How hard did Clapham try to keep him, or does a question like that make me a traitor who is not a "real" fan? I only ask because it strikes me that the slightest questionning of Clapham's motives ALWAYS draws the same response from some people, namely that if you are a REAL fan then you never EVER question the Chairman. As for the four possible candidates listed above, none of them inspire me with great confidence but I suppose at the end of the day it depends pretty much on how much the new man will be allowed to spend. Over to you, Charlie.
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A Question for all the fans.
Would you give up a well paid job, possibly with a Pension, to manage a football team?
No Pension scheme. No security!
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He never got offered the job so he never turned it down, he knew he was on his way out and left before he was pushed.
Noe of the four candidates inspire you tony? No disrespect to LW great man and manager, but Jim Harvey is the better manager and would be my choice.
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Jim Harvey looks the best of a bad bunch,but surely it's time that Clapham departed once and for all.
How about Simon Rushton at Southport Trinity,he led his team to the league and Cup double last season and should at least get an interview with Clapham.
Rushton could bring his own backroom staff,which includes a chef,photographer,beautician,TV celeb and Rupert the Bear.
Boys will be Boys
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I’ve been a Sandgrounder supporter for many years and I’m very disappointed with the chairman. He made his mind up that Liam was for the chop towards the end of last season. Clapham reminds me of an old school teacher without the brains, and he should retire before bad health claims his life. God bless SFC. R.I.P.
Billy( D)
Chester Road
Southport
Merseyside
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Rushton would be ideal for the job. His man management skills are unique, he has many contacts in the game & his work situation would allow him to be a full time boss witout losing his income or pension! Unfortunatley, after his most successful season yet, he has just signed a "golden handcuffs" deal which ties him to Southport Trinity for the next four seasons & I doubt if Mr Clapham will be willing to pay the required compensation.
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S.F.C R.I.P? Jesus no
Liam has done a good job but he couldnt be part time with a mainly full time team. Look at what Jimmy Harvey did at Morecambe.
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i cant stop crying please come back
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All the best Liam, Thanks for taking us back to the conference. I have got a feeling that Shaun Teale might get the job but I would like to see Greaham Westley because he has just left Stevenage.
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I would be very shocked to see Shaun Teale back at Southport...parting was not a good one apperently.
King Eric I am as gutted as you..he's a great manager and person.
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from Confguide (www.confguide.com/cboard.mpl)
Charlie Clapham & his cohorts have stuffed Liam.
It all comes out in the wash.....
1) At a meeting prior to the AGM, Charlie Clapham told Liam he doesn't want any part time players at the club next season.
2) Charlie Clapham wants a wage structure with maximum earnings of £400.
3) Liam was really upset by how rude Charlie Clapham was at the AGM and his inability to answer questions.
4) The Southport board have never offered Liam Watson the chance to go full time as Charlie Clapham says they can't afford his salary.
Yet Charlie wants all employees to be full time.
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Charlie,do the honourable thing and pi$$ off,your time is up
Rookery Ultra Deadly Rebel Army = RUDRA
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