Bromley part company with legendary manager Andy Woodman just two days after losing to 2015 Premier League champions Leicester City in the third-tier of English football

BROMLEY chairman Robin Stanton-Gleaves has announced that legendary manager Andy Woodman is to depart his role with immediate effect following the mutual termination of his contract this morning.

 

The Ravens sit second-from-bottom (23^rd) in the League One table, having picked up eight points (two wins, two draws and six defeats) from their 10 games.

Assistant manager Byron Webster – who scored THAT winning penalty that sent Bromley into League Two at Wembley in the National League Promotion Final in 2024 – will be taking charge of all first-team affairs on an interim basis whilst the club appoint a permanent replacement.

“I would firstly like to offer my sincere thanks to Andy for all he has achieved during his time with us,” said Mr Stanton-Gleaves in a statement.

“It’s no surprise that this club has reached new heights and Andy has been fundamental in helping us achieve that.

“I would like to reassure our supporters that we will be entering this new chapter with the same ambition and determination to keep moving this football club forward.

“On a personal note, Andy has been a pleasure to work with and I wish him all the best for the future.”

Having joined just over five-and-a-half years ago in his first step into management, the 55-year-old has gone on to oversee the most successful period in Bromley’s history, breaking a number of records along the way.

In his first full season in charge, Woodman guided the club to FA Trophy glory before securing another Wembley trip just two years later as Solihull Moors were beaten on penalties as the club clinched promotion to the English Football League (EFL) for the first time in the club’s 132-year-history.

Woodman clinched the EFL League Two title earlier this year and Woodman won the League’s Manager of the Year Award at the EFL ceremony.

Woodman also steered the club to The FA Cup Third Round for the first time in the club’s history, losing 3-1 away to Premier League giants Newcastle United in 2015.

Last season, Bromley stunned Championship side Ipswich Town on penalties in the League Cup.

It seems rather ironic that Woodman’s final game in charge was to be against Leicester City, who came away from Hayes Lane with a 4-0 win on Tuesday night.

Just 10 years’ ago Leicester City were celebrating winning the Premier League title, while Bromley had just won the sixth-tier (now called) National League South title for the very first time.

Bromley are punching well above their weight in the third-tier of English football – National League South would be their natural level, taking history into account.

An article on the BBC Sport website, written by Nick Mashiter, clearly couldn’t cope with the Foxes taking to the hallowed turf of Hayes Lane.

He described the occasion, writing, “Leicester are at one of the lowest points in their history. Sitting 10^th in League One, it has been a spectacular decline.”

The Foxes, currently managed by former Rangers boss Russell Martin, have sold 23,500 season tickets and are one of 13 clubs that have played in the top-flight during my 49 years on my life.

The bottom four of League One currently contains Peterborough United – who arrive at Hayes Lane on Saturday – with nine points from 11 games, Barnsley (8 points from 10 games), Bromley and Wigan Athletic (seven points from seven games).

When Barnsley played in the Premier League for one season (1997-98), Bromley finished in fifteenth-place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table.

Stockport County – who are currently at the summit of League One – will be playing their FA Cup First Round tie against Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park on Sunday 8 November, kicking off at 2:15pm, it has been confirmed.

Tim O’Shea’s side reached the First Round for the very first time after coming away from Bedford Town with a goal-less draw last Saturday and that EPIC penalty shoot-out victory after THAT 2-2 replay draw on Tuesday night.

The game has been selected as one of eight televised First Round ties and will be jointly-screened by TNT Sports 3 and BBC Two.

The Football Association has confirmed that all 16 clubs that have been selected for live television coverage will each receive a live television broadcast fee of £50,000.

The winning and losing clubs in The FA Cup First Round will receive £47,750 and
£15,800 respectively from the prize fund.

Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman – who has been at the helm for 32-years – was reduced to tears of happiness following Tuesday night’s Flamingo Park epic, after Jakob Lowe, 17, stepped up to send the magical Wands through for the first time by emphatically rifling home the decisive spot-kick.