SWANS GO FOR KUHL OVER MAZ
MAHREZ Bettache was shocked to find out he wouldn’t be continuing as manager of Staines Town – despite winning four of their last six games.
The Swans announced the appointment of former Basingstoke Town boss Martin Kuhl on Monday.
Bettache took over on an interim basis following the sacking of Anthony Gale in October and had seen an upturn in result over the past month.
However, after a 4-3 loss at Waltham Abbey last Saturday, their first defeat in six games, the 26-yearold was told he wouldn’t be given the permanent job.
“Well what an unexpected phone call,” he tweeted. “I stepped in as the role of ‘interim’ manager at Staines Town, a difficult period to take over with all that went on behind the scenes.
“Steadied the ship in the last six games (four wins, one draw, one loss) apparently that loss was the last straw.”
Staines have offered Bettache the opportunity to remain at the club as part of the playing squad and part of the backroom staff. Kuhl, who left Basingstoke in September after nine months at the helm, began his managerial career as number two to Gary Waddock at Aldershot Town before the pair left for Wycombe Wanderers in 2009 having earned promotion to the Football League.
He went on to coach at youth level at Reading and in 2016 took over as caretaker manager following the sacking of Steve Clarke.
Kuhl joined Torquay United as assistant to new head coach Gary Owers in September 2017 before taking charge of Basingstoke in December 2018.