Salford City have today announced the departure of manager Neil Wood following their 5-1 defeat on Boxing Day to Tranmere Rovers as per the club’s website.
Neil Wood joined the League Two side 18 months ago from Manchester United under 23 side becoming Salford City’s fourth manager in the Football League since their promotion in 2019. He made an immediate impact, guiding the Ammies to 7th place, the highest-ever finish in the club’s history. However, this season has not gone to plan with the Ammies currently sitting in 21st place, only six points above the relegation zone. His squad has been ravaged by injuries to key players such as Luke Bolton, Callum Hendry, and earlier in the season Elliot Watt, limiting the tools at his disposal.
So far this season Salford City have picked up 23 points from 23 games, with only six wins to date with the most recent coming over two months ago against Doncaster Rovers. One possible contributing factor in Neil Woods’ departure could be the fact that he only won 12 of his 33 home league games. He will depart the Peninsula Stadium with a 42% win ratio with 40 wins from 95 games.
Writer’s View
As a Salford City supporter Neil Wood certainly provided moments that I will forever remember for example; the three games that were 3-2 and all had last-minute winners away from home in April 2023 however this season Neil Woods’s football has certainly been poor to watch which has been affected by injuries leaving him to pick from a very small selection of players which were mainly youth players such as Liam Humbles, Junior Luamba and Kelly N’Mai.
A new manager will face many of the same problems with issues such as poor training ground and a big injury list however the Class of 92 will want a manager that will provide the Ammies with crucial wins that pull Salford away from any relegation fight. If the new manager was my choice I would appoint someone experienced, like Mark Hughes until the end of the season before appointing someone like Danny Cowley in the summer.