SIMON Haworth went out with all guns blazing following his resignation after four years as Stalybridge Celtic manager, writes Tony Bugby.
In a hard-hitting 18-minute radio interview, Haworth was highly critical of the Celtic hierarchy claiming the club lacked stability and direction off the pitch.
Haworth claimed there was no infrastructure or plan to move the club forward and it was a case of survival each year.
As an example, he cited the constant coming and goings off the pitch, including the departures of CEOs Syd White and Wendy Mackie.
I have empathy with the points Haworth raised in the interview as Celtic are no longer a giant of non-league football as they once were, something recognised by Rob Gorski, chairman and majority shareholder.
Some of the sums of money in the semi-professional game are mind-blowing as can be seen in Celtic’s division with South Shields, a club in the seventh tier of the pyramid, full time.
Celtic, who once graced National League, have been left behind and are unable to compete, but it would be foolhardy to chase the dream and bankrupt the club which is the reality.
There is without doubt a lot wrong off the pitch at Bower Fold as Haworth alluded to and his comments resonate as somebody who covers the club.
For all their failings, Celtic to their credit stuck with Haworth for four years which made him one of the longest-serving managers in the Northern Premier League, so he contradicts himself as there was stability in terms of his job.
It would have been easy to jettison Haworth at the end of his first season when Celtic avoided relegation by winning their last game of the season after an awful second half to the campaign, but the board stuck steadfastly with him.
True, Haworth’s second and third seasons weren’t completed because of Covid-19 and the one just ended saw fortunes fluctuate from the fringe of the promotion play-off places to close to the relegation spots.
Haworth was afforded the time most managers do not get yet was no nearer creating a legacy.
He cited instability off the field, yet that was also the case on it as each summer it was starting again and completely rebuilding the team, hence my assertion he was a man without a plan.
You would have thought after four years the foundations would have been in place and only minor work would then be needed each close season.
Look at Hyde and Mossley who both have retained the core of their squad and this summer transfer activity will be minimal.
As well as failing to build a team, Haworth also struggled to find a system and to give the team an identity, something addressed by former player Scott Burton.
At the start of the season just ended, Haworth persisted with a 3-5-2 formation with Burton, who had just left the club, questioned as Celtic made a wretched start.
It clearly wasn’t working but Haworth refused to change. It was only through injuries that he was forced to switch and stumbled upon 4-3-3 which brought about improved fortunes.