Former England, Hull City and Leicester City manager Peter Taylor has been sacked by Ismithian League North Division side Maldon & Tiptree, the club have officially announced.
Maldon & Tiptree endured a decent start to the 2023/24 campaign in the eighth tier, winning twice and drawing once across the first three matches but the experienced coach was still dismissed by the board.
Speaking in a public statement, the club’s General Manager Mitchell Cowling stressed that the sacking of Taylor was not results or performance-based but instead, a strategic decision taken by the hierarchy.
Cowling said:
“Making this decision so early into a season was not an easy one.
“I had a lengthy conversation with Peter and expressed my apologies for the need to implement changes to the club’s structure.
“I want to clarify that this decision is not based on results or performance, but rather a strategic direction I believe is necessary.”
Cowling continued on to thank Taylor for his services over the past nine months and wished him luck in the future:
“I value Peter’s dedication and hard work, and I will be wishing him success and rooting for him in his future endeavours.”
Maldon & Tiptree also revealed that Taylor’s assistant manager Liam Bailey will take charge on a temporary basis in the meantime.
Taylor has a plethora of experience in football, having coached the likes of Leicester City in the Premier League and many others at club level while also having a one-game stint as England manager in 2000 in a 1-0 defeat to Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italy.
The veteran has also been in charge of the Bahrain national team, England’s U21s as well as Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.
Writer’s View
It’s difficult to comment on this situation. Maldon & Tiptree had a solid start to the season yet Taylor was still dismissed.
Club General Manager Cowling revealed that the decision was strategic and not results or performance-based and so it’s not really clear as of yet what the purpose of Taylor’s dismissal was. Perhaps this will become more evident in time.