Football: Non-League Notebook - Gresley dispense with Birtles
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Your support makes all the difference.GARRY BIRTLES' first taste of management came to an abrupt end late on Tuesday evening, when the former Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and England striker was sacked by Gresley Rovers.
Birtles and his assistant, Paul Fitzpatrick, were dismissed after a 3- 1 defeat at Grantham made it 14 games without a win in the Dr Martens League Premier Division for Gresley. The Derbyshire club are one point clear of the relegation zone but have played more matches than three of the four teams below them.
As the No 2 to Paul Futcher, Birtles helped steer Rovers to the Dr Martens title in 1997, when the inadequacies of the Moat Ground denied them promotion. He took charge when Futcher moved on to Southport, but has been hindered this season by serious financial difficulties. Gresley's veteran goalkeeper, Stuart Ford, takes caretaker charge of the team.
Boston United, who entertain Altrincham in the fifth round of the FA Umbro Trophy tomorrow, have failed to recruit the services of Chris Waddle. The Pilgrims had offered the former Tottenham and England winger, who had a spell with Torquay earlier this season, a short-team deal, but he turned them down this week.
"I did think about it," Waddle admitted, "but I decided I wanted to concentrate on my coaching job with Sheffield Wednesday, which I didn't want to risk by picking up an injury."
The Ryman League side Hendon have the toughest task in the Trophy - they travel to the holders, Cheltenham Town, who are the bookies' favourites for both the tournament and the Nationwide Conference title.
The north London team are in the last 16 for the first time in 21 years. Their manager, Frank Murphy, is travelling west hopefully. "The last time Cheltenham lost in the Trophy," he said, "I was the winning manager [at Dulwich Hamlet] and the winning goal came from Paul Whitmarsh." He now plays for Hendon and is the Ryman Premier's top scorer.
The England semi-professional side play their first international of the season next Tuesday when they take on Italy at Church Road, Hayes.
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