Paul Groves: AFC Bournemouth part with manager

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Paul Groves

Bournemouth have parted company with boss Paul Groves and assistant Shaun Brooks after winning just one of their 10 league games this season.

The Cherries, who are 20th in League One with only eight points, lost 3-1 to Crawley on Tuesday.

"Paul Groves and Shaun Brooks have asked me to express their thanks to the support they have received from the fans," said chairman Eddie Mitchell.

"We wish them well in the future, and who knows where that will take them."

Mitchell, who faced a fans' protest on Saturday following their defeat by Walsall and was hit on the head by a programme, added: "I would urge our supporters to recognise the time and effort that Paul and Shaun invested in the first team and their unwavering determination to produce an attractive brand of football.

"As chairman of AFC Bournemouth, I have personally recognised the direction in which they were trying to take the team in terms of tactics and style of play, and throughout their time in charge they have had my full support.

"However, I believe that luck has not been on their side during their short period at the helm.

"As we know, football is a results business, but most people will be unaware of the hard work and dedication that they put in behind the scenes to help this club move forward."

On Tuesday, Groves had vowed not to turn his back on the club, despite fans calling for him the resign.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "In football you don't quit. Never quit on the pitch, never quit off the pitch."

Groves was appointed permanent manager in May, after taking over as caretaker boss at the end of last season, following Lee Bradbury's sacking in March. He was given a two-year contract, but won just three out of 20 games as Bournemouth manager.

In September the club appointed former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp in an advisory role at the club.

First-team coach Dennis Rofe could now take charge on Saturday, but it is understood that the club are working hard to bring in a caretaker manager for the weekend.

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29 comments

  • Comment posted by U13895005, at 13:43 3 Oct 2012

    Paul Groves & Shaun Brooks to be replaced by Rodney Marsh & Fen Goran Eriksson.

  • Comment posted by Washingupdone, at 16:17 3 Oct 2012

    he isnt a successful businessman. It isnt a knee jerk reaction, it was a bad appointments from the start.

  • Comment posted by U15390213, at 15:40 3 Oct 2012

    This Mitchell bloke sounds like a complete clown. Looking back at past articles he gave the previous gaffer Lee Bradbury a contract extension then sacked him within two months (and then promotes the youth team boss). Makes you wonder how these people are ever 'successful businessmen'

  • Comment posted by MarkH, at 14:07 3 Oct 2012

    Is this the same Eddie Mitchell that swore repeatedly at Mark Chapman on 5Live, and threatened his own fans?

    As an outsider looking in, I feel for Bournemouth fans after their turmoils over the years. You finally have sound financial backing, and have to deal with this person dragging your name through the mud.

  • Comment posted by k-stand, at 13:06 4 Oct 2012

    Redknapp has already said the only managerial position he is remotely interested at this stage of his career is Poole Town

  • Comment posted by NeilAkerman, at 16:47 3 Oct 2012

    @14.Marord
    Definitely NOT a knee-jerk reaction and in most AFCB fan's view, far too late!
    He had 20 league games in charge inc 10 last season, and took only 20 points from them. Certain relegation form. We're also out of 2 cup comps already this season. That together with poor team selection and awful style of football have led to this overdue action.
    Time for an experienced manager....PLEASE!

  • Comment posted by Erol Umut, at 15:05 3 Oct 2012

    @14 Marord
    Another knee-jerk reaction from a chairman - pathetic! Far too early to make such a drastic decision. Short-termism never breeds success, something that needs to be drummed into Mitchell's head.
    ----

    It was a programme getting thrown at his head which scared him in to it.

  • Comment posted by U15445708, at 14:24 3 Oct 2012

    Half time team talks by a Russian woman, slurring 4-letter outbursts on national radio, the hiring of a manager with a less-than-average CV - learn from your mistakes.

    Securing funding for a struggling club, having a squad capable of getting into the Championship, getting 'Arry in the background, letting Mr Groves depart honourably - learn from your potential.

    Up the Cherries!

  • Comment posted by U15445760, at 14:04 3 Oct 2012

    you cant blame groves,Who appointed him? exactly a man who knows as much about football as my puppy,maybe it will be 3rd time lucky mitchell or not,in the meantime we have 38 players but no team and dwindling gates. just sort it out now mitchell

  • Comment posted by U15444780, at 13:45 3 Oct 2012

    Another 10% for Harry

  • Comment posted by Shankill bob, at 13:43 3 Oct 2012

    As a life long AFCB fan I can only say that it's a rather sorry end to Groves' brief tenure; personally a nice chap, however the football was ordinary and at times his stewardship woefully inadequate. We have money (maybe too much) that helped us compile a huge squad (maybe too large) that we can’t field the same eleven players from on a weekly basis, inevitably leading to no shape or continuity

  • Comment posted by Baldinio, at 13:40 3 Oct 2012

    Eddie Mitchell should give Matt Ford a ring and ask him how to run a successful club in the area which has people queuing to get in rather than people scrambling to get out. Probably the worse Chairman of AFCB since Harold Walker left - and that's saying something given the long line of intellectual dwarfs that have occupied that position.

  • Comment posted by U13248905, at 13:25 3 Oct 2012

    The wife of Eddie Mitchell's business partner is the bookies favourite to take over.

  • Comment posted by Erol Umut, at 13:20 3 Oct 2012

    The fans are running the club. Mitchell doesn't know what he is doing.

  • Comment posted by Gerald, at 13:15 3 Oct 2012

    Lucky that Harry Rednapp lives just down the road.

  • Comment posted by bormuf, at 19:03 3 Oct 2012

    'arry
    'arry Redknapp
    'arry Redknapp on the WING.

    Early 70's. Dank tues night. Misty.Blackburn.

    'arry picked up the ball close to our box, belted off down wing, cut inside, wellied.

    Top right corner. Still best goal ever seen by a bormuf player.

    He's not God, just close.

  • Comment posted by U15445708, at 17:17 3 Oct 2012

    We've got...arry arry arry arry Redknapp on the bench, on the bench....

    ; ) xx

  • Comment posted by bormuf, at 16:57 3 Oct 2012

    Harold Walker was not even close to our worst chairman, although appointing John Benson did just about do him in.

    Harry Redknapp is a Cherry through and throughand by far the biggest name ever associated with the club. Rumour is he didn't really want to be manager of England at all; he was holding out for Dean Court.

    Groves couldn't manage. Ed the brickie can't either

  • Comment posted by Luther, at 16:06 3 Oct 2012

    redknapp shows up a advisor, manager is sacked. hmmm.

  • Comment posted by U13683960, at 15:48 3 Oct 2012

    i thought bradbury was still the manager. shows how much i know

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