Soccer

Waterford sack Marc Bircham ahead of UCD playoff on Friday

Manager had said he was suspended for one week before club confirmed his departure

Waterford have fired manager Marc Bircham. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Tue Nov 23 2021 - 09:47

Waterford FC's bid to remain in the League of Ireland premier division will end as it began, without Marc Bircham.

Bircham’s eventful six months at the RSC concluded with a flurry of tweets on Tuesday by the manager and club owner Richard Forrest that can only reflect poorly on the league’s reputation.

The 43 year old was sacked by Forrest, a fellow Englishman, following what Bircham described as a “difference of opinion on a couple of matters.”

Assistant coach Dave Bell is expected to take charge for Friday’s relegation/promotion play-off against UCD at Richmond Park despite Bircham recently inking a two year deal.

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“Just when I thought this season couldn’t get any crazier!” began his 7.53am tweet. “After a brief text message conversation with the owner [FORREST]last night and a difference of opinion on a couple of matters I have surprisingly been given a week suspension meaning I will no longer be able to manage the team on Friday night.

“Anyone that knows me knows I’m a man of principles and will stick to them,” Bircham continued. “That leaves me to say I have the utmost confidence in the players and staff to finish off this amazing journey with the win they so richly deserve after the mammoth effort and professionalism they have applied.”

In response, at 8.33am, Waterford FC “terminated the contract of Marc Bircham. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Next, Bircham took to the airwaves, telling WLR FM: “I put out a statement today which I thought was perfectly fine, just stating facts and letting everyone know I wasn’t there and I won’t be at the game. Then I just found out on social media that they terminated the contract. Nobody has contacted me whatsoever.”

At 5.05pm, Forrest offered a vague response: “I am extremely disappointed to have had to make this tough decision we did today especially given the huge match we have facing us on Friday. I feel we were backed into a corner, given an ultimatum, which as an owner left me no choice but to act now in the long term best interests of the club. I would have only made this decision when left with no other option and I take no personal satisfaction from it.”

The abrupt dismissal, without an explanation, damages the club in its most important week as the former QPR midfielder was one victory away from his self styled “great escape,” especially considering Waterford was rooted to the bottom of the league when Bircham arrived from the Bahamas FA, where he had worked for a short stint as technical director.

“Very similar settings to the Bahamas, I feel quite at home here,” quipped Bircham on arrival to the sunny south east last summer. “It is by the sea. Very similar weather.”

There was coaching substance behind this brash exterior with Waterford almost escaping the relegation play-off and they reached the FAI Cup semi- final, losing out to a late goal by Bohemians Georgie Kelly.

Bircham was recruited by former owner Lee Power, and when Forrest took over in June the club made some astute signings like Junior Quitirna and Phoenix Patterson. But the most curious arrival was George Forrest, the new owner’s son, with the 21 year old centre half only starting one league match against Sligo back in July.

There was also a tweet by the Waterford FC Academy account last week that directly refuted “comments made by the first team manager regarding the player status of our under 19 players.” A club spokesman was unable to reveal who sanctioned this tweet or who subsequently deleted it as Waterford searches for a sixth manager in 18 months.

“I’d be lying if I said it was the best job in the world,” said Bircham in May. “Maybe it’s because they are bottom of the league and the only way is up. Like every coach out there you think, ‘I can turn it around’. Whether you can or not is a different story. I work on a gut feeling a lot and I had a gut feeling that I really fancied it. Or maybe I’m mental! We’ll know in a couple of months.”

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