TULLY AXE DEFENDED

Coach row led to Truro exit

TRURO CITY say their decision not to renew boss Steve Tully’s contract was purely down to his inability to appoint a new coach – but the perplexed manager is “already over it”.

The White Tigers shocked Non-League football on Thursday by announcing they won’t offer the 36-year-old a deal for next season – despite leading the club to fourth in the National League South, its highest ever finish.

He took Truro to the playoffs, having the previous season taken them up through the Southern Premier by that route, his first full season in charge.

But that achievement wasn’t deemed enough for the club’s board who took the decision not to extend his contract.

They say a new deal was on the table on the condition that a replacement was found for departing coach Wayne Carlisle.

Tully didn’t get the new man in within the timeframe and was told he wouldn’t be staying because of the delay as chairman Peter Masters acted.

Dissolution

“I don’t know if it’s a smokescreen or not, I’m over it already,” Tully told The NLP. “Sure, on the day it happened I was hurt but I’ve moved on.

“It’s his club, his money, he can do what he likes. It’s just sad the way it’s been done. We’ve got six weeks until pre-season. He didn’t give any timeframe – I had four people I was talking to, but clearly the chairman has other ideas. “He gave me my first job so I’m still grateful. I just wish I could have had a bit of an indication – it’s now June and there are no jobs out there.” A club statement read: “The club has always seen the manager role as closely tied to that of the first-team coach and believes that it is essential to have a strong team in place. “The departure of Wayne Carlisle at the end of the season meant the dissolution of the current team. It has not been possible to find a replacement acceptable to the club within the required timescale.”