Barrow head coach Dino Maamria is believed to have left the club, exactly one month after being appointed.
Pete O’Rourke is reporting that the Cumbrian outfit will be searching for their fourth manager of the season, after Andy Whing and Paul Gallagher have also departed the Bluebirds in the last four months.
Barrow remain at risk of dropping out of the EFL this season, sitting in 22nd place in the League Two standings.
Out Of The Blue
Only two weeks ago, Maamria finalised his backroom staff in Cumbria, pinching Port Vale coach Simon Ireland and recruiting Ali Uzunhasanoglu. The latter took up the position of goalkeeping coach, having previously worked with the 54-year-old at a handful of clubs, including Stevenage and Oldham Athletic.
Having enjoyed an impressive rise to reach the fourth tier in 2020, the Bluebirds were involved in successive relegation scraps. But they just about kept their head above water, knocking on the door of the play-offs in more recent times. Then came a middle ground of a 16th-place finish last season, a position which feels a million miles away at present.
Not Lived Up To His Expectations
Formerly of non-league Southport and Nuneaton Town, the Tunisian gained his first EFL managerial position at Stevenage. Short spells at Oldham Athletic and Burton Albion, leading the Brewers to an impressive escape, left Maamria yearning for a long-term project.
In an interview in October 2024 with The Deck, he said: “I have been selective, patient. You don’t take anything for granted. I’m not sitting here waiting for the perfect job, I know it’s not going to be perfect.”
If those previous jobs were brief, then this latest spell barely constitutes a mention in his managerial career. He has led just six games in charge, losing to Bristol Rovers last night. After starting in perfect style against Colchester United, winning and keeping a clean sheet, Barrow lost their next three games before surrendering a lead to draw against Cheltenham Town last Friday.
Where Do Barrow Turn Next?
With such a high managerial turnover this season, perhaps the best port of call would have been to appoint an interim manager to take charge of the Bluebirds until the end of the season. But Barrow are in no position to take risks; instead, they require a steady, experienced head with the knowledge of a relegation battle if they are to survive.
Only goal difference currently keeps them outside of the bottom two places in the fourth-tier, albeit with a game in hand. But that isn’t necessarily a positive when they have lost four of their last five matches, facing an uphill battle to avoid dropping back into non-league.