Bangor City manager search state of play as ‘big club’ claim made
Nick Pritchard provided Bangor City supporters with an update on the search for a new manager. (Pic by Nik Mesney/FAW)
Bangor City chairman Nick Pritchard has revealed the club has interviewed several candidates as the search for a new permanent manager continues.
Michael Johnston stepped down at the end of August after leading Bangor to victory over Brickfield Rangers, while assistant Sean Eardley has since left his interim role. Top scorer Declan McManus has now taken charge as the second interim manager, starting with at least the Welsh Cup tie against Mold Alexandra.
Johnston has since taken the manager’s job at Halewood Apollo, who play in the 10th tier of English football. Eardley, the former Caernarfon Town and Llandudno manager, took over on an interim basis, overseeing matches against Rhyl, Mold Alexandra, and Penrhyncoch before departing this week.
McManus, who has scored eight league goals this season, will now lead Bangor for the immediate future as the club continues its search for a permanent appointment.
What does Bangor City want from its next manager?
Pritchard says Bangor have already interviewed several managers and are continuing to assess further candidates, after deciding against an internal appointment.
“We have interviewed a few managers, he said. We’re interviewing a few more. We had a few ideas of recruiting internally but decided against it for several reasons,” he said.
“One because of the current situation and two the next manager that we decide to take on for the club has to have an A Licence minimum or a Pro Licence to fit with our ambitions of getting into the Cymru Premier, and into Europe.”
Pritchard says the successful candidate will also need to bring experience, personality and the ability to work with the existing squad.
“The next manager has to be of a strong personality, of strong calibre. We’re in a tough season, because of what’s happened. We’re in a tough league now,” he said.
“We’ve got the same budget as we had last year because we invested heavily last year to bounce back. It’s a bit of a pressure league to be in. A tough league to get out. The manager that comes in has to have all-round ability.”
He added that knowledge of recruitment, academies and other clubs will be important, as well as the ability to integrate with what he described as an already strong dressing room.
“He has to have knowledge of other clubs, of academies, and how to recruit, how to bring the right talent, and more importantly has to fit in with an already very strong changing room we’ve got.”
How is Bangor City approaching the next stage?
Pritchard stressed that the club wants supporters to see the current period as one of rebuilding, while praising McManus and captain Cai Roberts.
“We’ve got a great captain in Cai. Dec, who we all love, has fitted in like a glove. He’s now stepped in as interim manager,” he said.
“We just want to reassure the fans that this is a time for growth and positive change. It’s a time for re-laying the foundations of the club, ready for the next poignant move.”
The chairman also revealed the scale of interest in the permanent position, saying Bangor have received 35 applications.
“We’ve got some great calibre managers that have applied for the position. We’ve had 35 applications. More importantly, it kind of goes to show just how big Bangor is as a club,” Pritchard said.
“We’ve had international managers with international experience apply for the position.”
Pritchard added that the next manager will need to handle the demands that come with leading Bangor.
“The next manager we appoint needs to be able to take criticism. They can’t cry and wince off because a few of the fans are p*ssed off because of how the team performed.”
Bangor currently sit fifth in the Cymru North, five points behind leaders Brickfield Rangers. The league leaders earn automatic promotion, while the runners-up face the second-placed side from the Cymru South, with the winner then playing 14th in the Cymru Premier.
For now, McManus will lead the side while the search continues, with Bangor aiming to use the next appointment as part of its longer-term push towards the Cymru Premier and European football.
