A fellow non-league manager has reacted to the news of Ian Culverhouse’s exit from Boston United.
The Pilgrims have won just two of their 16 league games so far this term, as well as a thumping defeat in an FA Cup replay and a loss to Leeds United’s youngsters in the new National League Cup.
“It’s Sad to See”:
Gainsborough Trinity manager Russ Wilcox, who led his side to a 4-0 victory over Boston United in the aforementioned FA Cup clash, feels empathy for the sacked Culverhouse.
Speaking to reporter Jamie Johnson, he said: “You fail through your own success. It’s very similar to my own Scunthorpe United story. You get them promotion, you go on a long unbeaten run, and then a couple months into the following season, because you’re in a league that is a lot better, [you are sacked].
“It’s sad to see, because you have tasted it yourself, and you know exactly what he’s going through. People always say, ‘That’s the nature of the beast’, but that doesn’t make it right.”
Boston United Worries:
The sacking of 60-year-old Ian Culverhouse was made in a fairly blunt statement by Boston United. The former Norwich City defender had struggled to ride the crest of the wave that saw his side crash the play-offs last term, and eventually win them to secure a return to the National League.
Club legend Paul Bostock, who amassed some 679 appearances across two spells with the Pilgrims, has also exited his role as assistant.
Culverhouse has twice secured promotion into the National League, with Kings Lynn Town before last season’s heroics in Lincolnshire. But, he was won just 11 of the 75 games he has managed in the fourth-tier of English football.
Something Had to Give – Opinion:
It is one of those situations where something had to change. And, for Boston United that has been the manager.
I was at the game where Gainsborough, from the division below, dominated and cruised to a 4-0 win that could have been even more. That followed an initial tie where a 98th minute leveller was needed from Boston to force a replay, after the lower opposition proved to be the better side.
Ian Culverhouse did a remarkable job to get the Pilgrims back into the National League. However, a poor start to the following campaign has drawn his time at the Jakemans Community Stadium short.
It is both harsh and a perfectly reasonable, probably expected, decision. Only time will tell if the move pays off, with a real change of fortunes needed to secure survival in the National League for Boston United.