Record-breaking Peterborough Sports managers are 'bitterly disappointed' but leave with their heads held high
Record-breaking Peterborough Sports managers Michael Gash and Luke Steele can leave PIMS Park with their head held high.
The pair – both rookie bosses – had the unenviable task of replacing club legend Jimmy Dean towards the end of Sports’ first season at National League level.
Most of the survival work had already been done, but Sports improved their points tally in the next two seasons, finishing with a record 63 points as well as a record 12th-placed finish last season.
Gash and Steele also oversaw a club record run to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy in the 2023-24 season.
Confidence was high the 2025-26 season would be even better. The managers were grateful for the backing of owner/chairman Tim Woodward as high profile players like Shaquile Coulthirst and Josh Cavallo arrived and a modest ground for the standard was upgraded further. Woodward’s drive to improve facilities saved Sports from an enforced demotion soon after he took control at PIMS Park late in the 2022-23 season.
But Woodward stated in the summer his ambition was higher than mere survival so 1 win and 4 points from the first 8 matches would be a grave disappointment, although injuries to key players have been a huge problem. Coulthirst hasn’t kicked a competitive ball so far.
Woodward informed the managers of his decision to remove them on Monday evening, although both fulfilled a commitment to take charge of the Tuesday night Northants Cup tie at Wellingborough Town. Sports lost 3-1 to a team two divisions below them in the English pyramid.
The PT was told the managers had left early on Wednesday morning and the club confirmed the news hours later. Ex-Hull City manager Phil Brown has been tipped to take over and what a coup, as well as a statement of intent from Woodward, that would be.
After his departure had been confirmed the PT contacted Gash. He said: “I wasn’t that surprised. I had a sense from being in and around the club that things were changing. I’m still massively disappointed though as Luke and I felt we could turn it around.
"Having said that we want to thank Tim and everyone at the club for the help they gave us since we started our jobs. He informed me of his decision on Monday evening and we spoke face-to-face the following morning. We agreed to take the game last night because we wanted to be professional until the end.
“We don’t want to offer excuses, but I have said often this season that when you lose key players to injury and you have one of the smaller budgets in the division it can become a nightmare. We can sign ‘like-for-like’ players once or twice to cover for injuries, but we can’t do it with an entire squad. We have younger players here who will get to the required level, but they are not there yet.
"Luke and I have worked tirelessly for the club and we are proud of what we achieved. It’s a disappointing end, but we send everyone at the club, the chairman officials, players and fans our best wishes.”
Gash and Steele only signed new 2-year managerial contracts in August. Gash remains on a player’s contract until the end of the current season, but is sidelined with ankle ligament damage until Christmas.