Evans goes it alone after Turner exit

By David Watters

Richard Evans is going it alone after former Tottenham winger Andy Turner stood down as his joint manager at EVO-STIK League Romulus.

Evans will be guiding the rock-bottom Roms at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels in EVO-STIK League South this weekend without the 42-year-old at his side after the ex-Republic of Ireland U21s midfielder left Coles Lane this week in the wake of the club's 11th reverse of the season, last Saturday's 4-1 loss at Loughborough Dynamo.

The Roms used their Twitter account @Romulus_fc to thank Turner for his "time and efforts" since arriving in 2015 as joint manager and subsequent appointment as academy director. Evans, who is also the club's chairman, tweeted: "Had a brilliant three seasons working with a class bloke and excellent coach. I will miss the great times we had working together."

Pictured in June 2016 collecting Luke Keen's Golden Boot at the EVO-STIK League's annual awards night in Blackpool from Northern Premier League vice-chairman Keith Brown, Turner set a then-Premier League record in 1992 as the youngest-ever goalscorer when he scored for Spurs against Everton aged of 17 years and 166 days.

After going on to play for the likes of Portsmouth, Rotherham, Yeovil Town and Tamworth, he hung up his playing boots at Chasetown before taking his first steps on the touchline managing Alsager Town and in 2015 as assistant manager at Coalville Town. A UEFA A licensed coach, he went on to coach at Kidsgrove Athletic and Chasetown before teaming up with Evans at Coles Lane two and half years ago.

Turner told birminghammail.co.uk that he made his decision with a heavy heart and for the good of the club. “I had discussions with the club last weekend and I just feel it needs a fresh approach," he said. "There has been no fall out at all. I love Romulus, the people involved and the players. It is a great club.

“We have had a lot of great times over the last few years both in terms of the first team and the youth set-up. But I think I have so much going on in my life at the moment, football wise, that I needed to make a decision."

Image courtesy of Rob Lock

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