News Focus
- Robinson exits nine days after the 3-0 defeat against Notts County at Wembley Stadium
- He served nearly two and a half years, matching Graham Alexander’s record in the Football League era
- Club owners Gary Neville and David Beckham watched the play-off final loss from the stands
- The board made a unanimous choice to end his contract following a full review
- Six senior players will also depart, including top scorer Cole Stockton
Salford City have removed Karl Robinson from his position as head coach. The decision comes just over one week after the team suffered a heavy loss in the League Two play-off final.
The Ammies lost 3-0 to Notts County at Wembley Stadium. That match took place nine days ago. Robinson had led the side for approximately two and a half seasons. This period equals the record set by former manager Graham Alexander during the club’s Football League history.
The ownership group has changed recently. Only two members from the famous ‘Class of 92’ remain as investors. Former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and David Beckham still hold shares. Both men were present at Wembley to watch the disappointing final result.
The club released an official statement on Thursday. They confirmed that Robinson leaves with immediate effect. The board and executive team reached this decision together after studying the football operations carefully.
The statement praised Robinson’s conduct. It noted that he showed great professionalism and integrity during his time at Moor Lane. However, the board believes this is the correct time for change as the club plans its next steps.
Salford started the season hoping to win automatic promotion. Their campaign suffered damage during the winter months. The team lost five matches out of six between January and February. This poor run hurt their chances of a top-three finish.
The club missed out on automatic promotion on the last day of the regular season. They failed to beat Crawley, who finished third from bottom. After the Wembley defeat, Robinson said sorry to the fans. He admitted that his players had let them down.
The future of assistant manager Alex Bruce is unclear. Salford will decide on his role later. The search for a new head coach starts now.
Several players are also leaving the club. Cole Stockton, who scored the most goals last season, will go. Right-back Haji Mnoga is also out of contract. Former Liverpool forward Fabio Borini will depart along with midfielders Ossama Ashley and Dan Chesters. Defender Tom Edwards has been released too.
Stockton scored 17 league goals in 38 games during his first campaign. However, injuries limited him to just six goals this term. Mnoga joined as a free agent and became a key player. He also plays regularly for Tanzania’s national team.
Ollie Turton has received a different outcome. The defender made 39 league appearances this season. The club has offered him a new contract to stay at Moor Lane.