Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Sacking brings Deeney’s eventful reign to an end
TROY Deeney’s tumultuous tenure as Forest Green Rovers head coach came to a suitably dramatic conclusion when he was sacked after less than a month in charge on Thursday evening.
The former Watford striker, 35, was only appointed as head coach following the dismissal of predecessor David Horseman on December 20.
Horseman and assistant Louis Carey brought Deeney to the New Lawn in a player-coach role shortly after the start of the season and he subsequently netted four goals in 18 appearances in all competitions, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat at Notts County.
Deeney oversaw just half a dozen matches during his time in charge of the bottom of the table Green Devils, failing to win any of them, with three draws and three defeats.
He was sent from the sidelines in the 2-1 defeat at Swindon, for which he this week received a four-match touchline ban and a £1,500 fine, while last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat to Harrogate led to him publicly criticising defender Fankaty Dabo, who he said was “awful”, “never makes a tackle” and “looks like he kicks (the ball) with his shinpads”, although he later apologised.
When Deeney was appointed, club chairman Dale Vince said: “We could have got a more experienced manager, but Troy has been here for a few months, knows the squad, the staff, the set-up and we know him.
“There is always an advantage when you promote from inside an organisation, you take a chance when you bring someone in from outside, who you don’t really know other than meeting them for a couple of hours. We need stability. Ever since we won League Two it has all gone pear-shaped for us.”
However, when firing Deeney on Thursday night, Vince said: “These are decisions nobody likes to make, but we have acted to give us the best possible chance of improving results and climbing the league table. We wish Troy all the best for the future and thank him for his efforts.”
Forest Green are now looking for their fifth permanent manager in the space of 12 months. Goalkeeping coach Dan Connor takes interim command for today’s League Two match at Gillingham.
Gavin Gunning will have to wait to begin his latest spell in caretaker charge of Swindon after their home game with Tranmere this afternoon was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
But when the time does come to play, Gunning admits results will come before performances.
He told BBC Radio Wiltshire: “First and foremost it’s about results. There’s no point me coming in and saying we’re going to reinvent the wheel. If we don’t win, it’s no good.”
DARTS: Teenage star Luke Littler achieved a nine-dart finish in the opening leg as he defeated Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in their Bahrain Masters quarter-final yesterday. He is just the second player to throw a nine-darter in a World Series event, after 16-time world champion Phil Taylor. “It’s good to get a nine-darter on TV,” he said.