Manager Les Fridge quits Nairn County
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NAIRN County boss Les Fridge has this morning (Tuesday) agreed to stand down as manager of the Highland League club.
The shock news comes just a week after main sponsors Narden Services Limited pulled out of the Station Park club, with next Tuesday being their final involvement.
This has sparked an uncertain future for Nairn as supporters rally to find new backers.
The 47-year-old former St Mirren, Caley Thistle and Ross County keeper is the league's longest serving manager, having taken over from Ronnie Sharp in 2004.
The board of directors have called an emergency meeting next Tuesday at the town's Newton Hotel.
Club secretary Donald Matheson said: "Given the recent news of the departure of our outgoing chairman Peter Mackintosh and our main sponsor Narden, the club and Les both agreed that a change in manager was in the best interest of Nairn County given the situation the club now finds itself in."On behalf of the management committee and the board of directors, I wish to thank Les for everything he has done for Nairn County over his 12 years at the club."He has been thoroughly professional in his position as manager and raised standards across the board at Station Park."He has led the club to some wonderful triumphs during his time with us and everyone at the club wishes him every success in the future. The club will immediately begin the process of identifying a new manager."Fridge said: "After 12 years as manager of Nairn County Football Club, I have agreed to step down."During my tenure, we have enjoyed finals, won trophies and finished second equal in the league.
"With the departure of the chairman Peter Mackintosh and the main sponsor Narden, I feel it is time for change and a clean sweep to allow someone else to come in and take the club forward.
"I would like to personally thank the chairman Peter Mackintosh for giving me my first managerial position and for his total encouragement and guidance, along with Peter and Michael Mackintosh, directors of football for their complete support and backing.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Nairn business community for their support, the directors and management committee and everyone connected throughout my time at a truly great football club. I also say thanks to the fans – I do not claim to have got everything right but I gave my all in everything I did for the club.
"Last but certainly not least, I thank all of the players and coaches during my time here. There were some real characters and it was a pleasure to manage them."I will now take some time out to recharge my batteries having been in football for 33 years. I will assess things to see if I stay in football or go in another direction and try something new."I wish Nairn County all the very best for the future and I look forward to watching them in action next season."Fridge joined Nairn County FC in May 2004. He took only one year to guide the club to his first trophy as a manager when he won the 2005 North of Scotland Cup, the first time a trophy returned to Station Park for 28 years.He repeated that triumph in 2008 when the club again lifted the North of Scotland Cup before the Highland League (Morganti) Cup was claimed for the first time in 47 years.Fridge’s final trophy success was the 2012 North of Scotland Cup, giving him a return of four cups from his time at the club, more than any other manager in the club’s history.
