How Bridport were relegated - a timeline of events

Only a few hours have gone by since the Bees suffered a 8-1 defeat at Mousehole to confirm their relegation from the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

And yet the Bees’ demise comes as an expectation rather than a surprise, so bad has their season been.

It would be grossly unfair to solely point the finger of blame at the current assembly of players and coaches at the club – Bridport’s downward spiral has spanned several seasons.

This rapid southerly slip was first flagged at the end of the 2018/19 campaign when former manager Adam Fricker announced his departure due to work commitments.

READ MORE: Mousehole 8-1 Bridport - match report

There was some conjecture at the time whether this was down to a reduction in the playing budget.

This has been continually denied by the club but Echosport has learnt from numerous sources that subsequent managers appear to have had fewer chips to put on the table, so to speak.

Fricker guided the Bees to 13th in his final season and handed the reins over to promising young manager Rich Robson for 2019/20.

However, things did not work out for the former Dorchester Town Reserves boss, with a number of star players such as Ed Butcher, Richard Hebditch and Leighton Thomas leaving.

Recruitment was always going to be difficult to patch up the losses of those players, plus more, and Robson consequently resigned having lost nine of 10 games.

New boss Jamie Manley then saw the campaign interrupted and eventually null and voided by Covid-19 with the Bees in 19th of 21 teams.

Bridport had safety in their own hands at that stage but, nevertheless, this represented an alarming drop-off in form compared to the previous season when the Bees finished 13 points above the bottom three.

More Covid-19 uncertainty followed in the 2020/21 season and Manley, along with assistant Kevin Leigh, stepped down just one day before the second national lockdown in November.

The duo had taken just one victory in 10 league games, including heavy defeats against the likes of Street and Buckland.

Their replacement, John Godbold, would put into motion a renewed focus on youth and local players – amid continued whispers of a drop in budget.

His aim was to use his UEFA A licence coaching skills to nourish the Bees’ best young talent in a long-term plan for success at St Mary’s Field.

Former Bridport boss John Godbold Picture: STEPHEN BARRETT

However, Godbold would only manage one game – a 2-0 Boxing Day loss to Wellington before leaving for a coaching job in the Middle East.

His departure, with the 2021/22 season looming, meant Bridport would opt for his assistant Rob Marquis as the new manager from May 2021 onwards.

Marquis had no other option but to continue with the same philosophy, while experienced Western League players were hard to come by with the resources available.

Eventually, Marquis exited after a board meeting just before Christmas having taken one victory in 26 games.

By that time, a youthful and inexperienced Bridport were being routinely dismantled by teams in one of the strongest Western League Premier Divisions for years.

It looked an unenviable task to take over, but caretaker boss Shaun Annetts assumed responsibility despite coming close to following Marquis out of the door himself.

Bridport meanwhile held interviews for the vacancy and are understood to have appointed a new manager for the beginning of the 2022/23 season, keeping their identity secret.

With Annetts in charge for the remaining games and no permanent boss at the helm, it appeared as if Bridport had in that moment waved the white flag accepting their fate.

Annetts has been left with a thankless task and carried himself with great dignity in the face of huge adversity – just as Marquis did.

However, he has had to battle an even more extreme set of circumstances than his predecessor.

Amid rumbles of discontent about the budget, several key players left including goalkeeper Greg Taylor and striker Tony Carlile.

Taylor’s exit was particularly concerning.

The goalkeeper had often kept scorelines below double figures and received the unofficial fans player of the month award for December.

But the stress of his situation and the repeated number of times he had to go back to the well, keep digging deep for his team, finally took their toll and he left to preserve his mental health.

Bridport have avoided defeat in just two of 31 league games so far Picture: STEPHEN BARRETT

Sources at the club are not surprised some of their key assets have departed, given small things, like a permanent physio or tracksuits, have not been regularly in place this season.

Bridport’s situation smacks of a club in confusion, lacking direction other than falling through the trapdoor to Step 6.

If the Bees’ hierarchy believes it can make a speedy recovery and suddenly transform fortunes in Western League Division One, it may be sorely mistaken.

Step 6 is no gimmie and is crammed full of teams looking to jump into the level Bridport will next season vacate.

They should look no further than Dorset counterparts Gillingham Town for an illustration in how difficult Western League Division One life can be.

Gills were promoted into Step 6 for this season and are battling away in 17th of 21 teams.

However, fellow Dorset side Sherborne Town are currently top of the table by 10 points.

The Zebras – with whom Bridport stars such as Dec Cornish and Henry Lawrence-Napier have linked up in recent seasons – have shown how the right setup and correct use of resources can be prosperous.

Bridport have a long way back to Step 5 but this summer is crucial if they are to recover quickly.

So, where did it all go wrong? In no one place can culpability be attributed at the Bees.

A combination of factors has led to where they are now. How soon the good times return to St Mary’s Field is down to how the Bees tackle those problems and find solutions.