Downpatrick manager quits

Downpatrick manager quits

21 March 2012

DONAL Bell says he has done the “honourable thing” by resigning as manager of relegation-threatened Downpatrick.

Bell stepped down on Saturday after a disastrous 6-0 thrashing at home to Malachians — a result that leaves Downpatrick rock bottom of the Amateur League’s top flight.

He was manager for just two months, during which time Downpatrick won just two of their seven games.

They are three points adrift at the bottom of the table and have played seven games more than Dunmurry Rec, who are just above them. It would seem they are odds-on to make the to Division 1A.

Club officials are remaining tight-lipped and have declined to comment publicly, but it’s understood the parting of the ways has not been amicable.

No announcement has been made as to who will take charge of the team for this Saturday’s home match against Nortel.

It’s all a far cry to the optimism which greeted Bell’s appointment back in January. He got off to a great start with a win over Islandmagee in the Clarence Cup.

But it’s been downhill ever since, despite a 3-2 league win over Malachians just a week before the same opposition inflicted the 6-0 mauling which brought Bell’s short reign to an end.

Bell was without four of the players who had played the previous week and pointed to what he was a lack of strength in depth in the squad.

He said last night: “It is with regret that I had to give up the manager’s post. For a variety of reasons I felt I could not take the club any further.”

“I was not able to get the results the club need and I thought it better to step aside and let someone else take charge and hopefully save the club from relegation.

“I think we played better than the results suggest, but I have decided to do the honourable thing.”