Bath City have sacked manager Darren Way – a day after their bid for Enterprise National League South survival moved out of their own hands.
Darren Way has been fired by Bath City with the club facing relegation from Enterprise National League South | Photo © Simon Howe
Defeat for the Romans at Tonbridge Angels coupled with a win for 20th-placed Farnborough – who occupy the last of the ‘safe’ positions – means the Twerton-based side went into the evening of Saturday 21st March trailing the Hampshire outfit by seven points but having two games in hand.
While Bath were losing 2-1 in Kent, Boro recorded a 2-0 home success against Slough Town.
The same afternoon, Chippenham Town, in 21st spot, thumped basement boys Eastbourne Borough 5-2 and are now five points ahead of City but have played three matches more than the Romans.
And the next day, Sunday 22nd March, Bath fired Way, who joined the club in December 2024 and helped them stave off demotion last term.
The axe finally fell after weeks of calls for his head by angry supporters.
Scott Wilson, second right, is congratulated by team-mates after putting Bath City ahead at Tonbridge Angels | Photo © Simon Howe
The 46-year-old had masterminded only one victory in his final 15 league matches at the helm. That run included nine defeats, including a humiliating 7-1 setback at Chelmsford City on Saturday 7th March. Way’s last six games as gaffer brought Bath only one point from a possible 18.
It was an unwanted case of deja vu for the former Swansea City and Yeovil Town midfielder, as his dismissal came almost seven years to the day after he was removed from the hot seat at Huish Park, with the Glovers struggling in EFL League Two and with their survival bid out of their own hands.
Yeovil, who had lost 10 of Way’s final 12 games in charge, sacked him on 24th March 2019 but went on to be relegated that season.
A statement from the Romans on 22nd March said: “The board of Bath City Football Club have today announced that men’s team manager Darren Way has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
“The decision was reached after recent disappointing performances which have left the club in a relegation battle.
“Tuesday night’s game [24th March, at home to Hemel Hempstead Town] will be managed by James Moon, Bath City academy manager, with support from a group of senior players. The club are seeking to appoint a manager to the end of the season as soon as possible.”
Bath chairman David McDonagh said: “The board believe that we need to make a change to give us the best chance of survival in the league this season.
“We thank Darren for all his hard work in his time at Bath City and wish him all the best for the future.
“We believe that we have a squad capable of fighting to stay up and are all focusing on Tuesday’s game now and know that our fans are with the players and club for the nine games left.”
Some of the Bath City fans who journeyed to Tonbridge Angels on Saturday 21st March for what proved Darren Way’s final match as the Romans’ boss | Photo © Simon Howe
The Romans made a great start at Tonbridge’s Yeomans Community Stadium, going ahead in the sixth minute when Scott Wilson headed in a Kieran Parselle cross.
But the Angels were on terms in the 17th minute, Bailey Akehurst netting from the spot after Dan Greenslade brought down Frankie Baker in the box.
In front of a crowd of 1,762, Jaiden Patman slammed a shot against the hosts’ bar on the half-hour.
But Tonbridge struck the decider in the 52nd minute, Akehurst releasing Bunmi Babajide to fire past Bath keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards.
Following the latest defeat, Way said: “We went 4-4-2 today. We had wide players, we were creating a lot of chances similar to the game on Tuesday [17th March, a loss to Horsham].
“We scored a fantastic well-worked goal. I thought Scotty [Wilson] did really well, it’s a great cross.
“You think you’re going to continue that momentum and then, unfortunately, one straight ball from one end of the pitch to the other and it ends up becoming a penalty – and in the position we’re in, that’s not good enough.
“We’re doing everything that we can as staff to try to turn this form around. We’re trying to be positive with the group. But there’s a few harsh words said in the dressing room amongst the players.
“We have to look at players, you’ll see who’s really committed to Bath City between now and the end of the season. If not, it’s the quality. They’re the two things why you end up in the position that you’re in.
“The supporters have been fantastic this season. If we’re going to do it for anyone, it would be for them. But it needs a level of commitment from every player involved in the squad.
“The staff are doing their job, the supporters are turning up every week, but we just need to make sure that the 11 payers who are on that pitch are as committed as everyone else at the football club. And if we get 11 players in that arena that show a level of commitment, I’ve got no doubt they can win games.
“But they have to make sure that they don’t have lapses in concentration and give the opposition an opportunity to score easy goals.”
Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes, Dan Greenslade, Jack Batten (Ollie Tomlinson, 77), Kieran Parselle, Scott Wilson, Jordan Tillson (Luke Russe, 70), Owen Windsor (Brad Ash, 77), Jaiden Putman (Jordan Alves, 55), Reubin Sheppard (Moses Alexander-Walker, 63), Josh Laqeretabua. Unused subs: Charlie Binns, Alex Fisher.
High-flying Hemel will visit the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on what Bath have designated Student Night. Kick-off on 24th March will be at 7.45pm.
Tickets are available here.
The Hertfordshire men recorded a superb 1-0 victory at fellow promotion-chasers Hornchurch on 21st March.
Meanwhile, the Romans have been drawn at home to Frome Town in the semi-finals of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup, formerly the Somerset Premier Cup.
The Robins are top of Pitching In Southern League Division One South. If Frome are promoted and Bath are relegated, the sides would face off in Southern League Premier South in 2026-27.
