Shock as Fort FC manager Baffour is axed after just three months in charge

Fort William Football Club's manager Chris Baffour has been let go by the Claggan Club, just three months after his appointment was unveiled in a blaze of publicity.

 

Despite Saturday's league win over Thurso, the club confirmed this week that former South Lochaber Thistle boss Alan ‘Spud’ Gray would be taking over as interim manager.

 

No reasons were given on why it had been decided to part ways with former Crawley Town coach Baffour after just a handful of games in charge.

 

The Lochaber Times had contacted Baffour on Monday morning to discuss his side's win over Thurso in the North Caledonian League at the weekend.

 

But Baffour told the Lochaber Times he had been asked to stand down as manager as things 'were not going as the club had hoped', according to what he had been told by officials.

 

A clearly disappointed Baffour added: 'I have been told a new manager will be coming in and I was asked if I would stand down. But I have not said I would be prepared to do that.

 

'It's all a bit spontaneous and I'm not quite sure what is happening. I am just waiting to see,' he told the Lochaber Times on Monday morning.

 

However, a joint statement issued on Tuesday on behalf of Fort William Football Club and Alan Gray saw club chairman John Trew wish Baffour 'all the best' for the future.

 

But there was no further mention of Baffour, with Trew continuing: 'We are delighted to welcome Alan back to the club after his time running SLT. I look forward to him using his local knowledge to give the club the energy and positivity we know he brings to any challenges.'

 

Pressed over the reasons for Baffour's departure, the club said it would not be making any further statements on the matter.

 

Gray is well known in north of Scotland football having been involved with clubs including Bunillidh Thistle in Helmsdale, Highland League outfit Clachnacudden and – most recently – establishing and running South Lochaber Thistle, a club which in its six years enjoyed unprecedented success.

 

"attachment_724251" "" "300"] Former South Lochaber Thistle manager Alan Gray is taking over as interim manager at Claggan Park. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos
NO F23 SLT Manager Alan Gray

 

Originally from Elgin, 37-year-old Gray is looking forward to the challenge. 'I’ve been in and around football in Fort William for a good number of years now,' he said.

 

'The most important thing is that we root the club in the community. There is an enormous appetite for seeing the side do well and things like the BBC documentaries have seen people outside the immediate area become aware of us.

 

'Now that the club has had the opportunity to properly invest in first class facilities – for example, the new pitch – the next step is to give the locals a sense of involvement and to encourage everyone, young and old, to get involved and reclaim the team as their own.

 

'Winning promotion from the North Caledonian is a big ask. The quality is far better than some people imagine but we have the squad to do really well. We just need that buzz of local support to push us as far as we can go.'

 

 

ENDS

 

CAPTION:

 

Chris Baffour, who has been forced out as Fort William Football Club manager after just two months in charge at the Claggan Park club. Photograph: iain Ferguson, alba.photos NO-F36-Chris-Baffour-Manager-02-edit

 

 

Extra pic:

 

Former South Lochaber Thistle manager Alan Gray is taking over as interim manager at Claggan Park. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos

 

NO F23 SLT Manager Alan Gray