When I started writing a bit about former Imps players taking management roles, I didn’t realise it would become a full-time job!
Hopefully, it’s a more stable full-time job than Eastbourne Borough, the club we signed Charley Kendall from. Since we signed him in 2022, they’ve had four permanent managers, and are now looking for their fifth. They have parted company with Matt Gray after just ten National League South fixtures, ending a tenure that began with optimism in May and closed with the club joint-bottom and still seeking a first league win.
Gray, who famously guided Sutton United into the EFL, was appointed following Adam Murray’s exit after the play-off defeat to Maidstone United. Results never settled on the south coast, and a goalless home draw with fellow strugglers Salisbury prompted clear disquiet in the stands before a battling two-all draw at Ebbsfleet offered only a brief respite.
Imps Interest
What is the Imps interest in the job? Well, Eastbourne Borough Women’s team boss Chris Day has stepped in as interim head coach and, for the FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood, and he’s a former Imps stopper. He came on loan from Watford in the 2000/01 season, replacing loanee Matthew Ghent, who had replaced the injured Alan Marriott a week before.
He played 14 times for City before leaving, and later represented QPR and Stevenage.
He was joined on the touchline by a player whom I’m afraid I have no love for, former City striker Drewe Broughton. Broughton, who also counts Rotherham United and Kidderminster Harriers among his former clubs, scored zero goals in two spells with the Imps. In fairness, he joined at a tough time, and played during the 2010/11 season. He even went to Wimbledon on loan, scoring the goals that helped them to promotion as we were relegated.
Both remind me of much worse times at the Bank, albeit almost 15 and 25 years ago, respectively.
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