ALAN MATHEWS AND his backroom staff have quit Bray Wanderers — just five games into the new season.

Mathews along with Barry O’Connor, Josh Moran, Ed Foley, Karl Brauner and Dylan O’Neil announced their resignation en masse on Wednesday evening.

They blamed ”circumstances beyond our control” which made their positions at the Premier Division strugglers untenable.

“We as a management team believe that there is a complete breakdown in communication, appreciation and toleration of our roles,” a statement explained.

Bray have lost all five of their SSE Airtricity League games this season without scoring a goal while off the pitch, the club has been fighting financial issues.

“We wish to disassociate ourselves with the direction the football club is heading under the current stewardship and we can no longer serve the club in a professional manner,” they continued.

“It is with regret that we have taken this decision. We admire and respect the great support and strong tradition Bray Wanderers FC has enjoyed for many years.”

They added: “Our concern is that football too will suffer unless the Club is re-organised and re-structured to realise the potential Bray Wanderers FC has.”

Full statement issued by Alan Mathews on behalf of the Bray Wanderers management

We have today resigned our positions with immediate effect.

We as a Management team believe that there is a complete breakdown in communication, appreciation and toleration of our roles.

Our commitment to the Football Club was total and that included securing much needed investment.

While acknowledging that results have been disappointing both staff and players have been working tirelessly to improve on this and were prepared to keep working to achieve a solution. Unfortunately circumstances beyond our control have now prevailed and the position of the entire management team (who remain unpaid) has become untenable.

Furthermore due to a number of issues relating to the conduct of senior officers of the Football Club some formal complaints have been received which is damaging the morale and good name of Bray Wanderers Football Club.

We wish to disassociate ourselves with the direction the Football Club is heading under the current stewardship and we can no longer serve the Club in a professional manner.

It is with regret that we have taken this decision. We admire and respect the great support and strong tradition Bray Wanderers FC has enjoyed for many years

Sadly, with the delays in payments to a group of very professional and dedicated players morale has been further eroded.

Our concern is that football too will suffer unless the Club is re-organised and re-structured to realise the potential Bray Wanderers FC has.

This matter is now in the hands of our solicitors and we will make no further comment.

Many Thanks

Alan Mathews
Barry O’Connor
Josh Moran
Ed Foley
Karl Brauner
Dylan O’Neill

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