Geary feels '˜disrespected' after Worthing United exit

Geary was United boss for two and a half years and says he handed in his resignation following a 9-0 defeat at Crawley Down Gatwick, while the club, in a statement on Saturday evening, said he was relieved of his duties following the loss.

Mavericks’ statement also said a new manager will be introduced to the club’s players on Tuesday, with Geary feeling it disrespectful the club already had someone else lined up and he was also unhappy with parts of the statement.

He said: “I walked straight off the pitch on Saturday, straight to Steve Taylor (Worthing United chairman), apologised for what happened and offered my resignation, which they accepted.

“To find out they were looking and speaking to someone prior to that disgusts me as did the statement they released which implied I was sacked.

“It feels like the club have gone behind my back which I feel is disgraceful after everything I’ve done for them. It’s a massive kick in the teeth.

“I think they could have handled it a lot better and, right now, the way I’m feeling, I hope they go down and I never, ever wanted to be saying that about the club.”

Geary was United manager for two-and-a-half years, guiding them to the SCFL Division 1 double in his first season in charge. Last year, they came 14th in the Premier Division and the club also had to deal with the tragic deaths of goalkeeper Matt Grimstone and midfielder Jacob Schilt in the Shoreham Airshow crash.

Mavericks dropped to third from bottom following Saturday’s defeat and Geary added: “I gave them everything and I’m just disappointed by how it’s all ended. I gave them the double in my first season and then put the club ahead of my family, children, partner and myself after everything that happened last season.

“I just feel it’s wrong the way the club have gone about it. I admit results weren’t up to it the last four or five games and we needed to get new players in, so it was only right that I handed in my resignation and it was the club’s right to accept it.

“But if they’ve offered my job to someone else behind my back, that’s massively disappointing.

“As bad as Saturday’s result was, it wasn’t the worst we have played this year but every mistake we made was punished. We’d be 12th if we’d won, so I don’t know where the club wants to be. Before I went there, it had been a joke club for many years but we’d changed that.

“I’d also like to thank Peter Saywell for all his sponsorship and all of my management team over the last two and a half years.”

In a statement on the club’s website on Saturday, United chairman Taylor said: “Following today’s defeat and recent poor form, which has seen us slip from tenth place, to inside the bottom three, it was with regret that we have parted company with first team manager, Nigel Geary.

“Nige has worked tirelessly for the club, winning the double in his first season and having to cope with the sad loss of Matt and Jacob last year; he will be remembered fondly by the club, however we feel that the players need a fresh approach, and an inject of personnel is required.”

A meeting will be held at the club tomorrow when the new management team will be revealed to the players.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!