How Have Clubs Fared Since Swapping Their Managers?

Barrow
Things don’t tend to be going well when you’re on your third manager of the season. That’s exactly where Barrow stand now.
Paul Cox and Micky Moore have both departed, which leaves Ady Pennock with the task of ensuring the club retain their National League status.

Cox was managing in League One with Gillingham earlier in the campaign and it wasn’t going to be easy for him at Holker Street.

However, the 46-year-old got off to a dream start winning five of his opening nine games since taking charge of the side who were second bottom in late October.

Pennock has lifted the Bluebirds out of the relegation zone – but there’s plenty of work still to do with just two points separating them and Solihull Moors who occupy the final drop zone spot.

Chester
It’s been a difficult campaign for Chester both on and off the field. Jon McCarthy was relieved of his duties in early September and was replaced by Marcus Bignot.

A shrewd appointment, but one that hasn’t yet seen the Seals break clear of danger. Five wins from 24 has left Bignot’s men still languishing in the bottom four, as they were under McCarthy – they’re six points adrift.

Eastleigh
When Richard Hill moved upstairs to take over a director of football role midway through December, his assistant Andy Hessenthaler was handed the main job.

After a winless month-and-a-half and with the side sitting in the bottom half of the table, Hessenthaler made a dream start by winning five of his first eight games without defeat.

That run of results lifted the Spitfires to within six points of the play-off places. However, no win in four now has seen that gap stretch to 10, with a mid-table finish looking likely.

FC Halifax
Two-and-a-half years at a football club is a fair old stint nowadays. That’s how long Billy Heath spent at FC Halifax before leaving by mutual consent at the end of last month.

The Shaymen were promoted to the National League last season, but won just two of their previous 19 under Heath.

That left them lingering just four points above the drop zone. 43-year-old Jamie Fullarton has taken hold of the reigns in what is only his second managerial job, having previously managed Notts County in what was a short-lived stint.

Fullarton picked up a point in his first game in charge of Halifax, a respectable 0-0 draw away at Eastleigh.

Hartlepool United
After suffering relegation from the Football League last year, Hartlepool will be keen to ensure they don’t drop again.

Craig Harrison recently left the club following a 2-0 defeat to Halifax Town which left Pools just three points off the drop zone.

Matthew Bates has taken caretaker charge for the time being, but was left disappointed as he watched his side slip to another defeat at the weekend.

With just two wins in their last 16, Hartlepool are in serious danger of suffering successive relegations and desperately need someone to lift the club back to its feet with financial issues also having an impact.

Gateshead
After Neil Aspin departed to return to former club Port Vale in October, Steve Watson was handed the task of taking charge of Gateshead who sat in 16th place.

Fast-forward four months and Watson has helped maintain the mid-table position of Heed.

They’ve moved up two places since the managerial change and have lost just twice in their last eight Vanarama National League games.

Guiseley
Bottom club Guiseley are going to have to put some run together if they are going to survive this season.

Currently 11 points from safety, the Lions are on the hunt for their third manager of the campaign.

Adam Lockwood departed early on in the season and was replaced by Paul Cox. The 46-year-old won just three times in five months at Nethermoor, with former Republic of Ireland international Sean St Ledger now in caretaker charge.
He’s won one of his three games, with that solitary 1-0 success coming at home against AFC Fylde as a run of seven straight defeats came to an end. St Ledger described the win as one of the ‘highest moments’ of his career.

Leyton Orient
Life at Leyton Orient started brightly for Steve Davis who chalked up four wins from his opening seven games in charge of the recently relegated club.

But after winning just twice in the following two months, former Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh was brought in. The O’s sat just three points above the relegation zone when Edinburgh took over at the end of November.

He has since propelled them slightly further away from danger after a run of just three defeats from 13. Four wins from their last six has seen them steer eight points above the drop zone, with an FA Trophy quarter-final replay with Gateshead to look forward to as well.

Solihull Moors

Following Liam McDonald’s departure and Richard Money’s resignation just 26 days into his tenure, the Moors found themselves rock-bottom of the league.

Mark Yates arrived at the Automated Technology Group Stadium midway through November with the almost impossible task of keeping Solihull in the league.

Some 15 games later and with five wins from their last eight, the gap to safety now stands at just two points.
The Great Escape? Yates may well just pull it off.

Torquay United
At this stage of the season, every game counts and there are 11 crucial fixtures ahead for Torquay.

Gary Owers hasn’t had the desired impact since taking over from Kevin Nicholson in the opening weeks of the campaign.

The Gulls have won just six times all season and sit second bottom - nine points behind Barrow outside of the relegation zone.