Felixstowe & Walton United FC

Article about Watty and Danny leaving The Seasiders including statement from Vice Chairman Tony Barnes

This has been a difficult two weeks for Felixstowe & Walton United where our U18s lost heavily by eleven goals to nil away at AFC Sudbury in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday night, Simon Tricker and Peter Trevivian both stepped down from their roles due to new commitments at Ipswich Town FC and the First Team suffered heavy defeats in both The Velocity and FA Trophy matches. Things did not improve when Manager Ian Watson and Coach Danny Bloomfield both stepped down by mutual consent with the club, also on Thursday evening.

When people make decisions that affect not only themselves but other people around them, it’s almost always following a period of time in which a number of alternative options are considered first. That has been the case here at Felixstowe & Walton United.

It goes without saying that the club is enormously grateful for all the hard work and commitment Ian and Danny brought to the club during their time at The Goldstar Ground as it is with Peter and Simon. It’s also important to add that Ian and Danny will both be missed as the individuals they are, each with inspiring personalities and enthusiasm for everything Non League.

Vice Chairman, Tony Barnes stated:  “Many meetings and discussions have taken place over the last week, involving club officers, management and players.  Many of these have involved issues throughout the club that need to be addressed, but the overriding issue was the clear frustration of many senior players who expressed their concern and clearly could not embrace the new ideas / philosophies and change of squad structure that had been implemented during the summer.

Unfortunately, despite our conversations and efforts to resolve matters, it was clear that as a club we have to find another way forward, a way that I sincerely hope all the supporters, club members, committee members, playing staff and coaching staff will support.

Ian, in particular, over the last few years as assistant manager, joint manager and manager has been an absolutely fantastic asset to the club and it was with great sadness that we have reached the decision to have a parting of ways. Danny, too, brought many fresh ideas to the club and as a committee we felt we were on the right tracks for long-term player development and security at level 4 and, who knows, maybe capable of challenging for level 3 football. Both leave their positions with my very best wishes, thanks and gratitude for everything they have done and I really do hope that they can continue to be part of our club in some other capacity in the future.

We do aim to appoint a new manager or management team as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, goalkeeping coach Gary Hammond will take the reins at Hullbridge on Saturday.“

And so the club enters a new era in its history with new challenges both on and off the field of play. Felixstowe & Walton United is a proud football club that has come a very long way, especially in recent years. With the fan base it has, commitment from the players and from officials there is no reason why The Seasiders cannot consolidate in The BetVictor Isthmian League North and start looking at ways in which the club can begin to look to the future with growing confidence.