Barrow AFC.net

I get he was an interim but I would include Rob Kelly in 2020-21.

behind the goals wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2026 7:47 pm Just makes me sick after all those years trying to get back we just hand our league status back with such ease, shame on you all.

Too harsh condemnation, in my opinion. I think the owners did very well in many ways to cope with the demands of EFL football, including the need to invest a lot of money on the stadium and facilities, not to mention the complexity of a massive learning curve as newcomers to football management. Many mistakes have been made, but the reality is that we were always likely to struggle to compete with the ever-increasing financial clout of EFL2 clubs and the increasing costs of player wages, etc.

I believe the owners have worked very hard to keep the club going these last 6 years and I am hopeful that we may enjoy the next few seasons in the National League where we will be better able to compete.

Jim wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 1:20 pm

behind the goals wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2026 7:47 pm Just makes me sick after all those years trying to get back we just hand our league status back with such ease, shame on you all.

Too harsh condemnation, in my opinion. I think the owners did very well in many ways to cope with the demands of EFL football, including the need to invest a lot of money on the stadium and facilities, not to mention the complexity of a massive learning curve as newcomers to football management. Many mistakes have been made, but the reality is that we were always likely to struggle to compete with the ever-increasing financial clout of EFL2 clubs and the increasing costs of player wages, etc.

I believe the owners have worked very hard to keep the club going these last 6 years and I am hopeful that we may enjoy the next few seasons in the National League where we will be better able to compete.

To me that reeks of the "little Barrow" syndrome. Wonder if Burton and Accrington feel their rightful place is really the National League?

enjoy a few seasons in National League ? No way, thats just not for me

Like it or not. This is our level.

Not Little Barra syndrome, just reality. It’s been that way since I started in 86.

Some of the younger ones have been spoilt and expect more, good so do I but until we get the infrastructure and money to consistently compete at the top end of this league then don’t expect miracles every season.

We have a brief window in time where we will be punching higher than we ever have in the Conference.

The board, management and more importantly, the players need to make it count.

Let’s have a go, play offs minimum.

Every season in the NL it will be harder to get out. We've tasted EFL and quite frankly the reality will hit home when we kick off the new season.
I am awaiting pt 2 of the PH interview and from that we should be able to gauge the club’s ambition to make this as brief a spell in NL as possible. We cant spend our time looking at the perceived pecking order of teams around us on bigger budgets and with bigger status. Football doesn't always work this way and we have go all out to return to EFL as soon as possible.

Jonty wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 4:46 pm Every season in the NL it will be harder to get out. We've tasted EFL and quite frankly the reality will hit home when we kick off the new season.
I am awaiting pt 2 of the PH interview and from that we should be able to gauge the club’s ambition to make this as brief a spell in NL as possible. We cant spend our time looking at the perceived pecking order of teams around us on bigger budgets and with bigger status. Football doesn't always work this way and we have go all out to return to EFL as soon as possible.

"bigger budgets and with bigger status. Football doesn't always work this way". Totally agree.
As the saying goes, - 'Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently'.

There's nothing to say we cant bounce straight back if everything falls into place - probably not, but you never do know.

Jeeby wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2026 6:23 pm The culture in the club didn't sound much better when Pete Wild was here if Tom Whites recent interviews are anything to go by.

It wasn't Pete Wild who was manager during that pre season escapade in Scotland, it was Mark Cooper.

Bigfathoss wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2026 7:29 pm Since the Wilkie days, this club has had two good managers. Evatt and Wild. That's just fact.

As others have said, names such as Bayliss, Sheridan, Edmo (for a while) and Rob Kelly must be added to the list.

I would also include Kenny Lowe . . . "good" manager might not be the right way of expressing it but I would use the words "vitally important" manager. Kenny didn't "achieve" anything as manager in his four years between 1999 and 2003 but he was so important in that post-SV period in doing his bit just by being here and helping to keep the club functioning. And as I recall, whilst he certainly didn't uproot any trees in those four years, he helped to hold the club afloat in the top 6 or 7 of the league (NPL, I think it was). Yes, nothing special, but the club nearly died in 1999 as we all know and Brian Keen saved us. But Kenny did his bit to keep us alive just by being here and holding the role of manager during that crisis-time. As far as I'm concerned, big thanks to Kenny Lowe.

saltcellar wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 8:23 pm

Jeeby wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2026 6:23 pm The culture in the club didn't sound much better when Pete Wild was here if Tom Whites recent interviews are anything to go by.

It wasn't Pete Wild who was manager during that pre season escapade in Scotland, it was Mark Cooper.

What was the story then?

The club was a shambles at that time as Cooper kept alluding to when complaining about the lack of training facilities. Part time club in the lakes he referred to us as when at Yeovil. Sadly he was right in some ways.

Scott5 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 9:49 pm

saltcellar wrote: ↑Sun Jun 21, 2026 8:23 pm

It wasn't Pete Wild who was manager during that pre season escapade in Scotland, it was Mark Cooper.

What was the story then?

The club was a shambles at that time as Cooper kept alluding to when complaining about the lack of training facilities. Part time club in the lakes he referred to us as when at Yeovil. Sadly he was right in some ways.

https://x.com/i/status/2067988682292736497

A shambles of a season but let’s be honest we had 6 years to get it right and I don’t think we really ever did.

Appointing a football agent as ceo, some kid as head of football operations, no structure shit facilities

You can’t run a football league club with enthusiastic amateurs and kids on work experience you get found out and we did

Bingo wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 12:44 am A shambles of a season but let’s be honest we had 6 years to get it right and I don’t think we really ever did.

Appointing a football agent as ceo, some kid as head of football operations, no structure shit facilities

You can’t run a football league club with enthusiastic amateurs and kids on work experience you get found out and we did

I know a lot of folk post photos from it just to get likes on social media but the fact we’ve “improved” the away end and the view is still terrible probably sums the 6 years up really

Bingo wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 12:44 am A shambles of a season but let’s be honest we had 6 years to get it right and I don’t think we really ever did.

Appointing a football agent as ceo, some kid as head of football operations, no structure shit facilities

You can’t run a football league club with enthusiastic amateurs and kids on work experience you get found out and we did

Easy to have a pop with the benefit of hindsight.

Some of your criticisms are valid, but easy to be wise after the event.

Let’s hear what’s required this season, and most importantly, how will it be funded? Repeat, how will it be funded?

Hitthebar22 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 9:45 am

Bingo wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2026 12:44 am A shambles of a season but let’s be honest we had 6 years to get it right and I don’t think we really ever did.

Appointing a football agent as ceo, some kid as head of football operations, no structure shit facilities

You can’t run a football league club with enthusiastic amateurs and kids on work experience you get found out and we did

Easy to have a pop with the benefit of hindsight.

Some of your criticisms are valid, but easy to be wise after the event.

Let’s hear what’s required this season, and most importantly, how will it be funded? Repeat, how will it be funded?

No hindsight was needed by many who were voicing their concerns from very early on in the season. It’s made worse by the way the owners double downed at the Q&A in March and would not hear a bad word said about the then CEO.