Rams race to replace Robinson

29 Sep 2015 By David Watters

Ramsbottom United are planning to move swiftly to replace player-manager Jon Robinson who resigned on Monday after the club's disastrous start to the new EVO-STIK Northern Premier League.

Robinson took the helm in March in difficult circumstances following the departure of former joint bosses Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson for Salford City before guiding the Rams to safety in their first season in the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight.

The rock-bottom Rams had collected just two points from 11 league outings this term before his decision to quit in the wake of his side's latest reverse, Saturday's 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Darlington.

A club legend after notching up more than 100 goals in six years, Robinson's task this term had not been helped by the departure of a number of key players early in the campaign as well as recurring injuries to experienced central defenders Callum Jones and Andy Dawson.

In a statement announcing his departure from the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, officials said assistant manager Phil Edghill would take the reins on Tuesday night when the Rams travel to Nantwich Town.

The Rams then play two key home games in the EVO-STIK NPL's Premier Division, Barwell on Saturday followed by Blyth Spartans next Tuesday. Along with coach Wayne Goodison, caretaker manager Edghill will now be given the chance to stake a claim to the job permanently.

Ramsbottom United chairman Harry Williams expressed his disappointment that Robinson’s tenure had not been as successful as was hoped.

He said: “We gave Jon the job on the basis that he knew the club inside out, and he did what was asked for, having taken over in difficult circumstances in January, namely keeping the club in this league.

"But football is a results-based business, and after 12 games this season without a win, we felt we had to make that change. I prefer continuity, and Phil Edghill is another who knows how the club operates, and he will be given the opportunity to make the job his own. We still have three quarters of the season left, and hopefully Phil can turn things around.”

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