Lee Cattermole has been sacked by Gateshead after suggesting there were people at the club who didn't want the team to succeed.
Cattermole landed his first managerial role at Gateshead in June and oversaw a disastrous start to the season. The 39-year-old, who spent 10 years playing for Sunderland, managed to record just one win from their 12 league games and departs with the club rock bottom of the National League.
Post-match comments
Gateshead were beaten 2-1 by Worthing on Saturday, prompting a fiery post-match interview from Cattermole, who alluded to issues behind the scenes. The club failed to pay their staff and players for September after director Mark Nellist resigned and withdrew his financial support.
"Everyone has to be united, this club is nowhere near that, nowhere near that," Cattermole said after the loss to Worthing. "The club is nowhere near where it should be, it’s been disappointing. Press goes out about the players wages not being paid. That’s disappointing but it happens.
"But it goes from before that, well before that. We need to figure out who wants to be part of the new regime or whatever you want to call it and find out who wants to be part of it. If we do, we will get the club going because a club like Gateshead has been really competitive in certain spells and that is when everyone is united and everyone is together."
Behind-the-scenes issues
"I’ve been fully aware for the whole time I’ve been here, that isn’t the case. I’ve been managing it, I’ve been dealing with it, I’ve been trying to put a positive spin on it and prepare the team," he said.
"But ultimately, there are people in this building that don’t want the team to move forward and I know that. I can feel it, I see it and the clearer that we can be, that’s staff, players, fans, we might start winning games but it can’t happen, it doesn’t just happen."
The club is "appealing to shareholders to continue funding support" in the wake of Nellist's efforts to hand over his shares to fellow shareholder Stephen Paylor.
Replacement appointed
Gateshead have lost 10 of their 12 league games and are already eight points adrift of safety. Ben Clark has been appointed as interim manager to replace Cattermole.
"There’s been a lot of change and the moment we iron that out and get it going and get everyone aligned, so there’s no hiding place," the former Sunderland star said before the sacking. "Because what happens when you have a struggled, you have people that want to move it forward and other people play hide and seek."
"That happens in every club up and down the country. I’ve been part of it, I’m now trying to lead it and I need every staff member on board so we can go forward. If they are not, the players can feel it, staff members feel it and once we do iron it out, we might have a chance of winning some games."
