Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley
Neil Parsley celebrated five years in charge at Throstle Nest following Farsley AFC’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Radcliffe Borough on Saturday, writes James Grayson.
Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of Parsley’s appointment as Farsley Celtic manager on a permanent basis.
Parsley had replaced the sacked John Deacey initially as caretaker at the start of October 2008. He then led the Celts to four wins out of four in the Conference North alongside a Setanta Shield penalty shootout defeat to Altrincham to secure the job and the manager of the month award.
Parsley remained at the helm as the club fell into a financial crisis and eventually folded by administrators Mazars in March 2010. Parsley returned to manage the reformed Farsley AFC and led the charge for the NCEL Premier Division title in 2011 and looking back on the last five years, he said: “I’ve no regrets.
“There has been a lot of turmoil which has been well-documented. It was really difficult at the start.
“Players were leaving right, left and centre when we had to stay competitive. We then went into administration and we were still competitive and we had clawed the ten points back.
“They were happy times, but the decision was made by the administrators to deem the Palmer-Farrell bid non-viable which I think was wrong.
“We then reformed and we’ve had success. Winning the league was a massive high and time will tell, but I think we’re competitive in this league and the group of players we have now, if they want success, I think it is there for them.
“I’m really pleased with the squad that has been assembled and we’re not putting the club in jeopardy of a bad financial situation.
“Everybody works well together on-the-field and behind the scenes.”
John Deacey
Deacey’s departure in 2008 came as a surprise to everyone and still remains controversial. Farsley had begun the Conference North poorly having just won two of the opening ten league games alongside an early FA Cup exit, but the main reason was because of injuries to key players Andy Campbell, Rory Prendergast, Jamie Price, Stephen Downes and Craig Bentham.
Deacey arrived for a training session two days before the visit of Hucknall Town and was summoned to a board meeting where he was given his marching orders – much to current chairman John Palmer’s disgust. Palmer then resigned from the board three weeks later.
Parsley, who was Deacey’s assistant, admits he was surprised by the now Bradford Park Avenue manager’s departure,
“It was a shock and a bit surreal because John had had unrivalled success with Lee Sinnott,” he said.
“Things weren’t going to plan at that particular time, but I have no doubts it would have come good for John.
“John’s side had a lot of injuries at that point, but the squad was in place and I honestly think that in that particular season with that squad, it would have been a success with John at the helm.
“The club chose otherwise. I didn’t know it was coming and John has proved since he left the football club what a good manager he is by being a success at BPA.
“I was asked to take charge of the Hucknall game and then John Palmer asked me to do it for a bit longer before I offered the job.
“I remember the month well and with all due respect to the sides we played, that was the month where there were some winnable games. That fell fortunate for myself and they were probably games that John was looking to win as well.”
Parsley current combined record in charge of the old and reformed club stands at: played 243, won 121, drawn 33 and lost 89.