Tivvy Part Company With Manager Martyn

Pears to Take Temporary Charge

TIVERTON Town have parted company with long-serving First-Team Manager Martyn Rogers.

Martyn, 68, will be replaced in the dugout for Saturday’s game against Walton & Hersham by his former assistant Richard Pears, who has been appointed Interim First-Team Manager.

The Pitching In Southern League Premier South club took the decision to make a change in the dressing-room following a disappointing start to their 2023-24 campaign that sees them one place off the league’s relegation places and knocked out of the FA Trophy last Saturday.

Yellows Chairman Michael Dunford said: “After meeting with the Executive Committee, we agreed that the best interests of the club would be served by a change to the management structure.

“Richard Pears will be Interim First-Team Manager and the Executive Committee will now focus on a recruitment process to identify a talented new First-Team Manager. Richard will be part of that process.”

Michael paid fulsome tribute to Martyn, who was in his third spell as manager of the Yellows, having initially taken charge in the early 1990s.

He said: “Martyn is a living Ladysmead legend, and rightly so. What he has achieved for Tiverton Town, on the pitch and off it, is immeasurable and the Executive Committee heads generations of Yellows who are beyond grateful for his management of the club.

“Whoever takes over as our new First-Team Manager can build on the foundations that Martyn has laid, bringing their own fresh ideas and a new vision to supplement what is already in place.”

Following a playing career that included more than 150 games for Exeter City, Martyn was appointed player-manager Tivvy in 1992 and he remained as manager until May 2010, having amassed more than 1,000 games on the touchline.

During that time, he guided the club to three Wembley finals and two FA Vase wins, as well as promotion to the Southern League.

A month after standing down, Yellows entertained newly promoted Premier League Blackpool for his testimonial match.

After coaching spells at Weymouth and Taunton, and a stint at Devon FA as Commercial Manager, he re-joined Tiverton Town as manager following the resignation of John Clarkson.

Latterly, he took on his nephew Scott Rogers as joint-manager, before announcing his decision to leave Ladysmead in the summer of 2021.

However, three months later, he renewed his partnership with Scott, which was broken earlier this season when Scott moved to Weston-super-Mare, leaving Martyn in sole charge.

Applicants for the vacant position should be addressed to the Executive Committee via chairmanttfc@outlook.com.