By Harry Mottram: With only a handful of games left this season Bath City are in a desperate bid to avoid relegation from National League South – the sixth division of the football pyramid.
In a bid to survive following a string of defeats the Board of Bath City Football Club (BCFC Board) sacked Darren Way as the club’s manager. Fans had rounded on Darren holding him together with the Board and the players for the club’s perilous situation as they demanded action to prevent the drop into the lower league. The decision meant the first game of the new era saw James Moon, Bath City Academy Manager, propelled into the hot seat to manage the senior team in a home game against Hemel Hempstead where they lost 3-0.
Since then the club have moved to appoint Scott Bartlett as the new first team Manager saying: “Scott joins with a wealth of management experience at both Weston-super-Mare and Eastleigh and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Cannon Clarke Stadium at Twerton Park.”
Scott Bradley summed up the club’s situation in a statement on social media: “We are in a difficult spot there is no denying it but I am not phased by that, it’s about the potential, the people and the ongoing project.” Having played for Bath City as part of a brilliant team I have seen first hand how the community comes together to support the club and what that means to the players. I am delighted to commit my future to Bath City FC and am excited about the future.”
His upbeat tone will be welcomed by many at the club and the city’s wide base of supporters with the hopes that the team can conjure up a winning run and THE GREAT ESCAPE. Many a team has managed to snatch safety out of certain relegation over the years with the likes of West Ham United (2006/07) when they were 10 points adrift with nine games left before a dramatic final-day survival. And those with long memories may recall Bristol City’s own great escape when they played in the old First Division back in 1977 when they needed a draw to escape the drop which they managed against Coventry on the final day of the season.
Games left:
Sat 28 Mar. AWAY. Eastbourne V Bath City. League.
Tue 31 Mar. AWAY V Maidenhead
Fri 3 Apr. HOME. Bath City V Chippenham. League.
Mon 6 Apr. AWAY. Torquay V Bath City. League.
Sat 11 Apr. HOME. Bath City V Chesham. League.
Tue 14 Apr. AWAY V Totton. League.
Sat 18 Apr. AWAY. Dorking V Bath City. League.
Sat 25 Apr. HOME. Bath City V Maidstone. League. 12.30pm KO
There are still enough games left for the Romans to pull themselves out of the relegation zone especially if results from other teams go their way. Three points against Eastbourne, Chippenham Chesham and Maidstone with perhaps a couple of draws would give them 14 points which could save them – although even maximum points may not be enough if Eastbourne, Chippenham and Enfield all do the same. Many fans have resigned themselves to the club playing in the Southern League next season and seeing it has a chance for a rethink for the club. Relegation usually sees most of the senior players depart, lower gate money as fewer fans attend the games and a loss of status in the game.
On Sunday 22nd March the Board surprised supporters by moving to release Darren Way of his role as manager. In a statement they posted online: “The Board of Bath City Football Club have today announced that men’s team Manager Darren Way has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect. The decision was reached after recent disappointing performances which have left the club in a relegation battle.” BCFC Board Chair David McDonagh said: “The Board believe that we need to make a change to give us the best chance of survival in the league this season. We thank Darren for all his hard work in his time at Bath City and wish him all the best for the future.
“We believe that we have a squad capable of fighting to stay up and are all focusing on Tuesday’s game now and know that our fans are with the players and club for the nine games left.”
Bath City FC changed managers in December 2024 when Jerry Gill left and was replaced by Darren Way due to a poor run of results. It worked as the team finished in mid table last season.
In the past the team have been relegated and managed to come back up – and of course have spent much of their history in the division above (currently called the National League) when in the past they were close to becoming a full-time member of the Football League’s old Fourth Division.
Football, as the late Jimmy Greaves used to say, is ‘a funny old game.’ Sacking managers, relegation dog fights, struggles to make a club financially sound, and trying to attract new top class players on low wages are part and parcel of the game. With Tottenham Hotspurs also facing a similar fate and Bristol City up the road sacking Gerhard Struber and installing Roy Hodgson as the gaffer at Ashton Gate this week – these are universal problems.
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Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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