Glasshoughton Welfare chairman Phil Riding says he was shocked by Rob Hunter’s resignation
Glasshoughton Welfare were not expecting Rob Hunter’s resignation, club chairman Phil Riding has admitted.
It has been officially announced today that Glasshoughton are searching for a fourth manager in four years after Hunter quit his post at Leeds Road on Saturday immediately after the 2-0 defeat to Parkgate.
Welfare waited until today to publicly reveal the shock news to avoid possible further turmoil ahead of last night’s Toolstation NCEL Premier Division clash with Liversedge.
Glasshoughton had not won since mid-December and were struggling to field sides, but Mr Riding insisted that Hunter’s position was never under threat and says his departure was a surprise.
“I was very shocked and whilst I wasn’t happy with our performances in the last six games, it caught us offside as we weren’t prepared for it,” he said.
“He pulled me up five minutes before the end of the game (against Parkgate) and said ‘can I have a word at the end of the game’ and that sort of implied something was coming.
“He sounded a bit down and beaten up about it and I think it was a heavy decision for him.
“Some of the comments he said made it sound like it was probably the right time to accept his resignation.
“He felt disappointed by some of the lads letting him down like phoning him up on a Saturday morning (and pulling out) when on a Friday night he had a full complement of players.
“We went to Worksop with ten players, Pickering with eleven so little things were becoming issues and reading between the lines, maybe he ran out of a network of quality players which is sad because he and Mark Smitheringale are a first class management team.”
Rob Hunter and Mark Smitheringale took charge of 57 Glasshoughton Welfare matches
Hunter and his assistant Mark Smitheringale, who has also left the club, were at the helm for 57 games after being appointed in December 2012 to replace Graham Hodder.
Glasshoughton won 18, drew seven and lost 32 times under Hunter’s stewardship. He also steered the club to safety last season and Glasshoughton began the campaign brilliantly until their form tailed off at Christmas.
And Mr Riding has a lot of praise for his departed manager.
“I’ve said before that it was a first class management team of him and Smudge (Mark Smitheringale),” he said.
“They’ve been a pleasure to work with.
“Rob has brought a level of professionalism and like I said when we first appointed him his level of preparation is meticulous.
“He brought a level of competitiveness to the team and in the first half of the season we were flying and surprising teams.
“We have seemed to have lost two or three players and that has an impact on a settled side. But, Rob leaves the club in a better position than what it was in when he came.
“I have a lot of respect for them and they leave on good terms.”
Reserve team manager Jon Miles was the lead man in the dugout for the 2-0 win over Liversedge after putting a side together with the help of first team player Andy Sunley.
Miles has to wait until Thursday night to find out whether he will take charge again at Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday.
The club have only started inviting applications today and Mr Riding admitted that Welfare have not even discussed the possible candidates who could Hunter’s permanent successor.
“We have a committee meeting on Thursday and we’ll start the process of whether we appoint internally or externally,” he added.
“We have not thought about it. (After Rob resigned) It was just a case of how can we get a team and prepare right for tonight (Liversedge).
“Credit goes Andy (Sunley), Johnny Miles and assistants for getting a team together.
“I wouldn’t say I’m never in a rush to appoint a new manager. I’d like to think we go through the process well and we’ll look to appoint the right manager.
“As for the reserve manager, he has everything to gain and nothing to lose.”