I feel proud of what we achieved at FC Elmstead, says former manager Marc Bentz

MARC BENTZ says he thanks FC Elmstead for the opportunity to manage the club for the past 16 months.

The homeless amateur club appointed their general manager Fabio Rossi as their interim manager after parting company with Bentz and his assistant Dave Smith last week.

Bentz's last game in charge was a 2-0 home defeat to Premier Division side Sheppey United in the Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Third Round on 8 January 2019.

Rossi took charge of their 6-1 defeat at Tooting Bec in the London Senior Trophy Quarter-Finals at the weekend and this will be his third spell as manager of the team.

FC Elmstead are in fourteenth-place (bottom five) in the First Division table, having collected five wins and four draws from their 19 league outings and are only five points clear of basement side Meridian VP.

“Following the Sheppey United match, I was asked to meet with the committee on Friday 11 January.  I was then informed on Monday 14 January that the club wished to make a change by bringing in a new management team,” said Bentz, 35, who lives in Beckenham.

“The players were told immediately on the Monday of the clubs decision and that Fabio would be taking back over as interim manager with immediate effect.

“I would like to thank the club for the opportunity and the players for all their hard work over the past 18 months. 

“I feel proud of what we achieved as a team at Elmstead and believe the players should be proud of their performances over our last eight games, despite the results.

“I wish the club and players all the best for the future and I am sure our paths will cross again and I’d like to thank everyone for all the messages that I have received over the last couple of days.

“At present I have no plans for the future but I am available should anybody wish to discuss an opportunity with me.”

Bentz took over from Rossi to manage the side in September 2017 and he guided the homeless club to a top-eight finish in the league last season.

He was in charge for 60 games in all competitions and celebrated 23 wins, drew 12 of them and suffered 25 defeats during his tenure.

FC Elmstead return to action with a home game against Sporting Club Thamesmead on Saturday 2 February 2019. 

The club play their home games at Sutton Athletic’s Lower Road ground in Hextable.