Chairman blasts Bangor City 1876 players after blowing a two-goal lead in derby draw

NOVIRA CYMRU NORTH – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Bangor City 1876 2 (McManus 41, 49)

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (Cockerline 56, Jones 60)

Bangor chairman Nick Pritchard was highly critical of the team after they squandered a two-goal lead in today’s hotly-anticipated North Wales coast derby against Rhyl.

In a heated interview after the game, Pritchard said he is aiming to recruit a manager that will “shake things up” and warned players they can leave the club if they are not prepared to give absolutely everything for the shirt.

City recently parted company with manager Michael Johnston and his assistant Sean Eardley is in temporary charge.

Bangor lost 2-1 at Mold on Bank Holiday Monday and today dropped two points after a superb Declan McManus double either side of half time put the hosts in control.

However, the Citizens gifted two goals to Rhyl in a four-minute spell, Dan Cockerline and Joshua Jones making it all-square by the hour.

Cockerline latched on to a poor back pass to John Danby, rounded the keeper then finished with his left foot.

For the equaliser, Ben Lightfoot won possession 10 yards inside the opposing half, headed towards goal and passed to Josh Jones as Danby was heading towards him. Jones finished into an empty net.

Chairman Pritchard said after the match: “I want a manager to come in that knows how to manage, 

“I want a manager that comes in and knows how to target the players we want for the following season.”This is no disrespect to Johno whatsoever, Johno got us the treble, we won the league, he did a good job, but the kind of calibre manager we need now is an all-round manager who knows how to target the right players, get the best out of the lads we’ve got out of the pitch, because (currently) we’re certainly not getting the best out of the lads on the pitch. 

“Some of the lads I know have the ability to play in the Welsh Prem and in Europe, but they’re playing like they’re still in Tier 3.
“That’s what upsets me the most – I know they’ve got the heart and the drive, but they need a manager that knows how to get it out of them on the pitch, and knows how to train them hard, so when they play these type of games like a cup final for other teams, we should be playing like it’s our cup final. 

“We never turned up today. To let them two goals in, I’m absolutely devastated. After Dec scored two goals I’m devastated that he was let down in certain parts of the pitch by what I deemed as Tier 4 kind of play.
“When things have gone wrong before I’ve been a little bit quiet, but I need the fans to understand that we’re going to go for it. 

“We’ve got a massive club here – we’ve got a club that brings in bigger crowds than the Welsh Prem. If they don’t want to play our on that pitch they’re not right for this club. I’m going to bring in a manager that is going to come in, shake things up and if the players are not right, they can go. It’s that easy.”

Later this evening, Pritchard delivered another message on social media explaining that feelings were running high at the time of the initial interview. He made it clear his previous comments were not intended to discredit previous boss Johnston.

He added: “When I’m talking about the manager last season, Michael Johnston managed the team on the pitch and Lee Dixon and myself managed the signings and a lot of the work off it. “We targeted the boys needed to get the job done. My point is I need a manager that can do the whole shooting match. I spent too much time chasing and pressurising signings last season, no disrespect Jonno was a part time manager and we had to give him the support. 

“Moving forward we need a hands-on manager that manages signings, dressing room and on the pitch.”