Bromley part company with manager Neil Smith with the club sitting in the National League play-off zone

BROMLEY have announced that manager Neil Smith has been relieved of his duties following a meeting with the clubs chairman.

Smith, 49, took charge of his 225^th Bromley game on Tuesday night, going down to a 3-1 home defeat to National League leaders Sutton United, parted ways with the Hayes Lane outfit this morning following discussions with owner and chairman Robin Stanton-Gleaves.

“This has been a difficult decision to make and one that has not been taken lightly, Stanton-Gleaves said in a statement.

“Having continued to review first-team performances and developments over an extended period of time, I now believe a change in leadership is required for us to progress further on our journey.

“Neil has undoubtedly played an integral part in pushing the club forward both on and off the pitch. He has given Academy scholars first-team opportunities and his work within our community on bringing players and supporters closer together has been invaluable. I know supporters will never forget him guiding us to an appearance at Wembley Stadium for the first time since 1949, in an FA Trophy Final.

“He has had my full respect and support during my chairmanship and I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at Bromley Football Club to place on record our sincere thanks to Neil for all the work he has done during his near decade with the club and wish him all the very best for the future.”

Following four years as Mark Goldberg's assistant manager, Smith took interim charge at Hayes Lane in February 2016 before being named first-team manager in April of that year.  

Since then, Smith has led his home-town club to finishes of 10th, ninth, and 12th before a curtailed end to the 2019/20 season saw the Ravens finish 13th in the Vanarama National League based on Points Per Game.

Bromley are presently in seventh-place in the table with 12 league wins, eight draws and nine defeats from their 29 games and occupy the final play-off berth going their trip to fifth-placed side Wrexham on Saturday.

A club statement added: “The club’s ultimate ambition remains to reach the Football League and the search for a new first-team manager will begin immediately, with a view to having a new manager in place in a timely manner.

The club will update supporters on an interim replacement in due course, as well as once a permanent appointment has been made.”

Bromley were 19 seconds away from winning The FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 20 May 2018 but Roger Johnson's own-goal cancelled out Bromley's opener from Omar Bugiel. Brackley Town won the silverware by holding their nerve in the penalty shoot-out by winning 5-4 on penalties.

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