Gavin Steps Down

[symptomless]

https://etfc.london/club-statement-gavin-macpherson/

The board can confirm that it has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Gavin Macpherson from his position as first team manager.

Gavin joined the club in May 2023 and bought immediate success in his opening season with our play-off victory at Chatham, securing promotion to Step Two for the first time in our history.  In our inaugural season in the National League South, he was able to rebuild the squad and guide us to a tremendous second half of the campaign which saw us stay up on the last day of the season; possibly an even bigger feat than our play-off success. This year, we again battled with clubs with much bigger resources than our own and ultimately fell short of achieving our goal of staying in the division.

Gavin has worked tirelessly alongside his coaching team over the past three years and his hard work, dedication and commitment to the club have been exemplary throughout his tenure. It was the board’s wish that Gav remain in charge for our return to Step Three, but having considered his position long and hard he feels that a complete reset of things is in the club’s best interests moving forward.  

The board are extremely grateful for all of Gavin’s efforts as manager. He brought us arguably the finest day in our history in our play-off win together with many other happy memories during his time with us. Aside from the first team, he has been instrumental in forming fantastic relationships with our youth team and academy and truly understands the unique nature of our club. During his three years he has built a tremendous relationship and rapport with our supporters and he will always be welcome at the Dave Bryant Stadium.

Gavin and his staff will remain in charge for the final two games of the season and we hope this will give supporters a chance to acknowledge his brilliant contribution to the club over the past three years.

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Its been an journey for sure; amazing first season, challenging second season and honest, hard working third. Good luck in the future.

Who's putting their hat in ring for the job next season? There's enough tactical know-how on here every week to walk it next season 😆

[No bull Towner]

3 minutes ago, symptomless said:

Who's putting their hat in ring for the job next season? There's enough tactical know-how on here every week to walk it next season 😆

🙈🙉🙊🤣🤣

[The Crowing Cockerel]

A thoroughly decent guy and sensible manager who has bowed out at the right time. While I've been critical of some of his decisions and recruitment, he certainly got things right in his first year and made the most of the resources at his disposal in securing promotion. Its certainly going to be a challenging job for whoever steps up, but if ever there was the time for a new broom, it is now.

 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Very very early, but how about this list of possible replacements:

1. Jon Underwood
2. Tommy Warrilow
3. Darren Manning
4. Jon Nurse

[Benjrider10]

Gavin leaves a legacy he can be proud of. I don't think I have ever seen such a hard-working football manager. There's no question he gave ETFC his all.

I'm not too surprised by his decision. I had a very brief chat with him in the bar after the Hemel game to thank him for everything he has done over the last 3 years (as I can't get to our last home game). He said the decision was weighing heavily with him but I feel he has run out of energy and needs a break. Definitely big shoes to fill for whoever comes in.

Next season will be far from easy. It will be a complete squad rebuild (with the possible exception of Sam Youngs and Micky Parcell). I look at Bishop's Stortford and Cheshunt - both haven't really recovered from the time they spent in NLS. I worry we won't be any different.

[lovely stuff]

Whoever gets the job it will not be a poison chalice. For the last two seasons we have been in the bottom 8 for home attendances and finacial clout for the league we are in. Next season we will be in the top 8 for home attendances and finacial clout.

We also have the experience of operating at a higher level which has professionalised our entire running of the club.Plus we have improved the stadium with bigger seating stand.

If we choose the right manager. One that has good contacts and can construct a strong squad from scratch then we are in with a good shout of making the play-offs.

Edited April 15 by lovely stuff

[The Crowing Cockerel]

3 hours ago, lovely stuff said:

If we choose the right manager. One that has good contacts and can construct a strong squad from scratch then we are in with a good shout of making the play-offs.

Not sure we'll be in the Top 8 in terms of finances (Maldon, Dulwich, St Albans, Chatham, Billericay, Aveley, Dartford, Brentwood, Eastbourne, Three Bridges - for starters, are likely to have bigger budgets).

Given how Welling, Ch*****t and St Albans have fared, I'd take mid-table next season.

[Albury_Walker]

14 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Very very early, but how about this list of possible replacements:

1. Jon Underwood
2. Tommy Warrilow
3. Darren Manning
4. Jon Nurse

5 Craig Edwards . Experienced and won't cost as much as the others .

[The Crowing Cockerel]

6 hours ago, Albury_Walker said:

5 Craig Edwards . Experienced and won't cost as much as the others .

Craig did remarkably well until the bitter end.

I've seen Steve McKimm mentioned elsewhere, which is an interesting shout.

[Theodopolous]

No one can doubt the effort Gavin and his team put in so for that there can be no complaints but the reaction to his departure i find unbelievable…. Let’s be honest when Gavin joined the club we wasn’t in a bad position… we had 84 points 21/22 69 points 22/23 and 77 points 23/24…. so we got 8 points more in our promotion season and we had Marcus playing his first full season… we were a team that had been on the verge of promotion in previous seasons….  So really Gavin has to be judged on what happened in the NLS… yes we had a late escape mainly against mid table clubs late on (apart obviously for Truro) … the escape should have been a warning but it wasn’t … we still followed the same old negative approach… we actually have some very good individual defenders but Gavin’s decision to ditch attacking intent for a solely defensive midfield cost us… the type of football we played was a million miles of what is required in the NLS… how can he say that stepping up to the NLS was massive then play the same midfield MP OK SY along with BL who came from Hendon that we had in the IPL…. 

Edited April 15 by Theodopolous

[The Crowing Cockerel]

I have no idea about the precise figures of our budget. I also don't know about the contract situation of some of the squad - I imagine a couple were contracted. Gavin did improve the team this season. So on that basis its fair to give him some credit. However, it was painfully clear that Gavin had neither the recruitment 'pull' or tactical nous to keep us in NLS. Even if he got us promoted next season, I could not envisage a situation in which he would be able to keep us up in NLS. His race is run. Its very much time for new ideas and hopefully a return to some kind of attacking football with flair! Gavin ran out of ideas some time ago, and on that basis he has done a very sensible thing in resigning while his stock is still relatively high.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

On 15/04/2026 at 00:07, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Very very early, but how about this list of possible replacements:

1. Jon Underwood
2. Tommy Warrilow
3. Darren Manning
4. Jon Nurse

With the 2 Jonnies (Unders and Nurse) out of the picture, time to update 5 candidates via the rumour mill:

1. Tommy Warrilow
2. Darren Manning
3. Lee Martin
4. Lee Bircham
5. Shaun Hale

[Rebel without a clue]

Lee Martin don’t make me laugh sacked at welling and ramsgate, did anyone else notice Brad Quinton at the game on Saturday? Again someone else who shouldn’t be anywhere near our club

 

[lovely stuff]

Gary McCann was also at the previous home game.

Peter Taylor has been seen at the ground as well

I would personally look towards either the W. Abbey or Cockfosters managers. They have both done a great job at lower levels locally over the last few years

[The Crowing Cockerel]

37 minutes ago, lovely stuff said:

Gary McCann was also at the previous home game.

Peter Taylor has been seen at the ground as well

I would personally look towards either the W. Abbey or Cockfosters managers. They have both done a great job at lower levels locally over the last few years

Gary McCann is now well set at St Albans, so no chance he will be in our dugout next season.

Perhaps the Wabbey manager IF they don't make it up through the play-offs?

Whilst I appreciate the source of the animosity towards Brad Quinton, I'm not sure its worthy of holding a grudge at this stage. He tried - and failed - to get us promoted and then had the opportunity to ply his trade at a higher level. Managers ALWAYS take 'their' players with them, so I'm not sure you can criticise either for moving on. There can be no dispute that he gave his all for us on the pitch, and managed to keep us up before things went sour. Whether he's the right man for the the job now is another matter.

[Father Jack]

5 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Managers ALWAYS take 'their' players with them, so I'm not sure you can criticise either for moving on. 

But he took the  WHOLE squad, including players who were never going to be good enough to play at that level. As far as I'm concerned,  he shouldn't even be allowed in our ground

[The Crowing Cockerel]

43 minutes ago, Father Jack said:

But he took the  WHOLE squad, including players who were never going to be good enough to play at that level. As far as I'm concerned,  he shouldn't even be allowed in our ground

Happy to be corrected (as it did seem a lot at the time,) but it looks like he took the following with him: Nathan McDonald, Jonathan Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Billy Crook, Karl Oliyide & Mahrez Bettache. This was from a squad which was torn to shreds by a Dulwich Hamlet side in the semi-finals of the play-offs. In their place we signed the likes of Ryan Blackman, Ryan Blake, Aaron Greene, Matt Johnson, Taylor McKenzie, Adam Martin, Mario Noto, Darren Purse, Joe Wright, and Sam Youngs.

[djwilf]

Fresh start please.    Dont want BQ anywhere near Donkey Lane.

[lovely stuff]

6 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Gary McCann is now well set at St Albans, so no chance he will be in our dugout next season.

Are you sure McCann is well set at St Albans? I've heard otherwise. I wouldn't be totally surprised if we did a manager swap with St Albans. Local boy Gav would love to manage his local team up there

[The Crowing Cockerel]

4 minutes ago, lovely stuff said:

Are you sure McCann is well set at St Albans? I've heard otherwise. I wouldn't be totally surprised if we did a manager swap with St Albans. Local boy Gav would love to manage his local team up there

Well he's just put 7 players on contracts there for next season. So not sure Gavin would be chuffed about that!