Wakefield AFC manager Steve Bodle sacked after poor start to new season

The Falcons have picked up just four points from their first five NCE Division One games and the manager and his assistant have paid the price.

In a club statement issued on Monday Wakefield AFC said: “Wakefield AFC can confirm that Stephen Bodle and Lee Needham have been relieved of their duties as first team manager and assistant manager with immediate effect.

"We thank them for their work with us and wish them well in the future.

"First team coach Iain Trearty will take training ahead of Friday’s match at Armthorpe.”

Bodle and Needham had been in charge at Wakefield since last October after arriving with a big reputation at this level for their work with Shirebrook Town, with who they were promoted.

They oversaw an incredible unbeaten run of 23 games, but were unable to help the the club get promoted as they missed out in the play-offs for the third successive season.

This season started well enough with a 4-0 win at Glasshoughton Welfare, but they have not won since in five league and cup fixtures.

Wakefield conceded four goals for the third time in a row as their losing run in the NCE Division One continued at home to Louth Town last Friday night.

In a remarkable finish to the game there were no goals until the 70th minute, but it ended up with the visitors winning 4-2.

For the Falcons it was a fairly positive first half, which was likely more down to Louth not even attempting to push forward rather than to their own excellence, spoiled by a capitulation in the second half.

After a number of half chances were not taken Wakefield did initially take the lead in the second half with a goalpoacher’s goal from top scorer Akeel Francis, after some sustained pressure down the right aided by substitute Nathaniel Muenda.

However, defensive gremlins – through midfield and down Wakey’s left-hand side – reared their head as they were pegged back almost immediately from the restart with Theo Kitt-Bushell netting.

Wakefield again took the lead through an excellent curling free-kick from Tom Hinton for his first Wakefield goal and they led 2-1 with 12 minutes to play.

That should have been the cue to see out the game, but inexplicably the hosts went to sleep again and conceded another sloppy goal from the re-start with Kitt-Bushell again the beneficiary.

Things were compounded when Louth then took the lead in the next minute with Kitt-Bushell completing his hat-trick.

Wakey were shocked and never really threatened a response, ultimately committing too many forward in desperation, which led to Louth and Kitt-Bushell adding a fourth on the counter-attack in stoppage time.

All of the goals Wakefield conceded were poor for an increasingly imbalanced looking side, with a failure to track back and inability to win the ball in midfield a recurring theme.

They have now conceded 15 goals in their last four matches and sit down in 16th place in the table ahead of a trip to Armthorpe Welfare this Friday.