Nicholas expected the sack from Ossett

Evo Stik Division One North

• Graham Nicholas was relieved of his duties as Ossett Town manager on Thursday morning after just eleven games at the helm.
• His reign ended with eight straight league defeats. He only left Garforth Town at the end of October to take charge at Ingfield.
• Nicholas believes he has been made a “scapegoat” for Garforth’s poor form since his departure.
• He has chosen to speak out after three months of persistent comments on social media about his decision to take players from Garforth to Ossett.
• He’s also “unsure” whether Garforth will let him back onto the premises at the J.S. White Community Stadium.
• He does intend on attending the occasional Ossett match, despite his exit.

Sacked Ossett Town manager Graham Nicholas half-expected the phone call to tell him he had been let go on Thursday morning, hours after the 5-0 defeat at Northwich Victoria.

In a wide-ranging interview with Non League Yorkshire, Nicholas also addressed criticism about the way he left Garforth Town to go to with Ossett Town, initially taking five players with him.

Nicholas did not win a league game as Ossett boss, with his only victories coming in the Integro Sports Cup.

He admits though he did know that the pressure was mounting and the committee were ready to swing their axe.

“After the Clitheroe game (January 30th), we had a meeting and the club addressed the issues and said that the last two performances were not good enough,” he said.

“They said the New Mills game (later postponed) was a must-win game which was fair enough.

“So I knew that (the sack) was in the pipeline. I did think that the first win would be the turning point. I did want more time, but I know it is about results.

“I really hope they stay up and I believe they will. It is a fantastic club with a great committee. When James Rogers rang me (with the news), he was honest and said it hadn’t worked out which I respect him for.

“I’m glad I took the job because it has been a good experience, but it has been difficult.

“When I took the job I knew that players were leaving so I had to try and bring in players who I trust and thought were good enough.

“In total I think there were 14 players that I did not have access to. Darol Lucas was going to Canada, we lost the goalkeeper to Kendal. We then lost Steve Jeff, Chris Ovington, Sam Akeroyd, Sanchez Payne, Nathan Curtis, Mitch Hamilton.

“It was a massive rebuilding job and I did need time. I did struggle to identify players, but that’s because I’m not used to the Evo Stik League.

“But, I believe the players I brought in were good enough and I feel I would have turned things around.”

To take up the role with Ossett, Nicholas left Garforth after two solid seasons at the J.S. White Community Stadium. He also guided the Miners to the West Riding County Cup final last season.

However, his legacy has been tarnished as the club’s supporters are still furious over his decision to take initially five players with him – Ross Shelton, Luke Mangham, Mark Simpson (since returned), Josh Moore and Simon Rogers.

To add fuel to the fire, Ben Hunter, former Miners captain Andy Hawksworth, Tom Smith, Dan Monfredi and Jack McCarthy have since followed on dual-registration terms.

No action was taken, but at one point Nicholas was reported to the authorities over some of the approaches.

Nicholas insists he did nothing wrong and is not responsible for the alarming slide in results. He does admit that it has damaged his relationship with his former club.

“People are saying I left Garforth with no players, but they beat Armthorpe 5-0 (in the County Cup) with the players that were still there,” he said.

“I left them in a good position, 7th in the league and still in the cup competitions. There were also 14 players on the books when I left. I had to quickly bring players into Ossett and players tend to follow managers.

“I took five players. With Simon Rogers I needed a centre-back as Lee Connor was going to Farsley. You look at the league table then and Ossett weren’t scoring many goals so I knew had to bring in a striker.

“Mark Simpson was top goal-scorer so why not give him a go. Josh Moore also has a fantastic work-rate. The other two were Ross Shelton and Luke Mangham.

“The other four or five who have since signed for Ossett such as Andy Hawksworth are still dual-registered with Garforth so they can still play for Garforth.

“I can’t be blamed for what is happening at Garforth at the moment. Some of the things I have read have been disappointing and I’ve kept quiet because I didn’t want to get involved, but it has gone too far now.

“It has been said that I held the club to ransom at the final game (against Hebburn in the FA Vase) over the five players that left. I don’t know where that has come from. These players wanted to leave and test themselves at a higher level. You can’t blame them for that and I gave them the opportunity.

“I feel I have been made a scapegoat for results since I left. I still want them to do well and at the final game I had a tear in my eye. Even now and the same goes for Ossett, I want them to win and it hurts if I see that they’ve lost a game.

“But, I’m unsure if I can go to a Garforth home game now. I went to their Ossett Albion County Cup game and to hear people say ‘don’t talk to me’ it hurt. If I did go I wouldn’t expect a warm welcome, but I wouldn’t expect to be turned away.

“I had to bring players in quickly to Ossett and if anyone wants to go on Non League Yorkshire and tell me another way of how I should have done it, please do.”

Nicholas confirmed that his relationship with the club’s owners was at breaking point after an argument following the 5-0 defeat to Clipstone in mid-October over tracksuits – which Nicholas claims were to be funded by sponsorship money he had brought to the club.

He did apologise, but it set the tone for what to follow after his exit.

Having the final word on Garforth, Nicholas said: “What I would like to say that Brian (Close) the chairman does a fantastic job with the pitch.

“He would never let me train on the pitch which I wasn’t happy with, but I understand why now.

“It is fantastic and players love playing on the carpet of a surface. It is better than some I have seen in the Evo Stik.

“There’s no bitterness and I apologise if I have offended anyone, but I would have like someone to offer me an alternative (to taking the five players).”

What now for Nicholas? “I don’t know, I’m going to spend some time with the family,” he added.

“I’m not ruling anything out though. I will be watching some local games and also be assessing and reflecting on my decisions at Ossett.

“I’ve learnt a lot and it has been a good experience.”

One thing is for sure, armed with solid NCEL experience and an A-License coaching badge, Nicholas will be back soon.