Phoenix Sports part company with Darren Anslow less than a year in the job

PHOENIX SPORTS chairman Tony Crowder has sacked manager Darren Anslow, after only 48 games and less than a year in charge of the ninth-tier club.

The club parted company yesterday after the side lost 4-2 at home to Snodland Town at the weekend.

Anslow has the unwanted tag of relegating two club’s in two seasons, as Beckenham Town and Phoenix Sports finished within the relegation zone in the Isthmian League South East Division, but Becks did receive a relegation reprieve to maintain their eighth-tier status two years ago.

Anslow left Eden Park Avenue after only 39 games (11 wins, eight draws and 20 defeats) by mutual consent in September 2024 due to budget restraints despite sitting at the top of the table and then Phoenix Sports chairman Andy Mortlock appointed Anslow as Phoenix’s new manager on Thursday 3 October 2024.

Phoenix Sports currently sit in 12^th place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up 11 points (three wins, two draws and four defeats) from their nine games.

The Barnehurst based outfit are eight points adrift of leaders Bearsted and only four behind the club in the final play-off berth, Erith & Belvedere, who lost 3-2 at home to ten-man Fisher on Sunday.

“On behalf of the board and everyone connected with Phoenix, I would like to thank Darren and his assistant, Sam Clarke-Keen, for their hard work and dedication over the past year,” said Mr Crowder in a club website statement.

“It has not been an easy decision to make but we feel it is the right time and in the club’s best interests to make a change.

“Both Darren and Sam have always conducted themselves with great professionalism and we wish them every success in the future.”

“We will provide a further update regarding the club’s new first-team management team as soon as possible.”

Centre-half, Jake Goodman, 32, has been put in temporary charge for Saturday’s FA Vase First Qualifying Round home tie against Sporting Bengal United.

Anslow won 14, drew 9 and lost 25 of his 48 games in charge of the club.

Anslow, who has had 23 roles at 17 different clubs during his managerial and coaching non-league career, was in charge of Epsom & Ewell for only 16 days, was Deal Town's manager for eight games and lasted only 12 games while manager of Chatham Town, earlier on.

He won the double for Cray Wanderers' Reserve side in his first job back in 2011 and guided Sevenoaks Town to the Kent Senior Trophy Final, losing 2-1 to Hollands & Blair in April 2012, before guiding Beckenham Town to the top of the table before his departure in 2024.

Visit Phoenix Sports’ website: www.phoenixsportsfc.co.uk