Hopefully the club can maintain its National League status again for next season, says axed Welling United boss Loui Fazakerley

LOUI FAZAKERLEY hopes Welling United can maintain their National League status despite being axed as their manager today.

 

The Wings have decided to sack the 31-year-old after ten-months in charge at Park View Road, along with his coaches Matt McEntegart and Paul Barnes.



AXED: Welling United have parted company with Paul Barnes, Loui Fazakerley and Matt McEntegart
Photo: Dave Budden/Welling United FC

The Wings are without a league win since beating Lincoln City 2-1 at Park View Road on 13 October, although Fazakerley guided the club to The FA Cup Second Round after beating Grays Athletic at the second attempt in the Fourth Qualifying Round and Barwell before crashing to a 5-0 home defeat to Carlisle United.

Fazakerley took over in March 2015 and guided the club towards safety at the end of last season.

But Welling United went down to a 2-1 home defeat to Barrow in Fazakerley’s last game in charge of the club on Saturday.

The Wings are third-from-bottom in the Vanarama National League table, having won six, drawn six and lost 15 games.  The Park View Road outfit are five points adrift of safety (taking goal-difference into account) and have 19 games remaining.

Operations manager Barry Hobbins issued a statement on www.wellingunited.com/wp:  “We’re disappointed that we’ve had to make a change but we felt we had to give ourselves the best chance possible of staying up.

“We enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup this season but the league is our priority and we need to get back to winning ways very quickly.

“Loui has been a fantastic servant to the club, both as a player over a number of seasons and as a manager in the past year or so. We wish him all the best in the future.”

Fazakerley, who made 219 appearances for the club, issued his statement on his Instragram page.

“It's tough news for me to accept but after eight seasons, my time at Welling United has unfortunately come to an end,” said Fazakerley.

“It's not the way I would have liked it to end but one thing for sure is that myself, Matt and Paul can look at ourselves in the mirror knowing we gave the job absolutely everything we had.

“I've met some great people at the club during my eight seasons, way too many to name in here. I'd like to thank both Barry, Barrie (Hobbins’) and the board for their continued support over these last 11 months and for giving us the opportunity to kick-start our careers in football management.

“I'd also like to thank the group of loyal Welling supporters who appreciated the hard work we put into the club and always kept up their support even through the tough times. You guys know who you are.

“Lastly, I want to thank all of the players at the club for their efforts and wish them all the best for the rest of the season. Even though results didn't go well towards the end, one thing is for sure, they always gave us their all!

“My outstanding memories with the club will always be winning the Conference South championship in 2012/13 and also, equally as satisfying, helping to keep the club up in the National League on the last day of last season.

“Hopefully the club can maintain its National League status again for next season.”

The club are expected to name their new management team ahead of their trip to sixth-from-bottom FC Halifax Town on Saturday – a club that are five points ahead of the Wings.

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com/wp

Article published: 20:20 Monday 25 January 2016