THE END OF AN ERA FOR KARL
KARL MARGINSON accepts it was probably time for change at FC United – but that didn’t make it any easier to walk out of the door after 12 years in charge this week.
The 46-year-old took the reins as the Red Rebels’ firstever manager when the breakaway club formed in 2005.
Despite boasting no managerial experience, Marginson led the club to four promotions, from the North West Counties League Division Two to National League North.
But after a summer of change, Marginson has failed to find the winning formula so far this season with the club second from bottom in the table ahead of this weekend.
News of Marginson’s departure from the fan-owned club was confirmed after a board meeting on Tuesday night with striker Tom Greaves appointed as a caretaker player/manager while a permanent successor is sought.
But Marginson can look back on his tenure with nothing but pride and leaves with no ill-feeling towards the board, but he has warned the club must start generating more revenue in order to compete with the big guns in the National League North.
“It’s been a fantastic 12 years and I look back with plenty of pride,” he told The
NLP. “I look back to 2005 not knowing what I was doing, as part of a steering group and having to assemble a brand new team in two weeks.
Downtime
“To help the club achieve such success early is testament not only to myself, my staff and the players, but more importantly to the supporters, who have proved to be fantastic owners to work for in taking the club to the level they want to be.
“The club, however, is at a crossroads and there are some big decisions that need to be made. If it is to continue to progress then more revenue needs to be increased because there are some big clubs in this league.”
That said, Marginson believes FC United currently lie in a “false position” in the table and is backing his protégé Greaves to start turning things around.
In the meantime, it’s time for a period of reflection for the former Rotherham and Macclesfield Town midfielder before he looks to kickstart his managerial career.
“I’ll use the next week as a bit of downtime,” he added. “But football is all I’ve ever known and if a chairman called me tomorrow, I’ll happily talk to him.”