Smith reflects on his time as manager of Bromsgrove Sporting - The Bromsgrove Standard

Smith reflects on his time as manager of Bromsgrove Sporting

Bromsgrove Editorial 2nd Mar, 2018 Updated: 2nd Mar, 2018   0

WHEN Paul Smith took over as Bromsgrove Sporting manager in late 2014, he knew deep down he could achieve something special with a club which rose from the ashes of Bromsgrove Rovers.

After stepping down from his position with immediate effect on Wednesday, the former Alvechurch defender will go down as the greatest manager Sporting have had in their relatively short history.

Despite all the success on the pitch, Smith admitted the past 12 months had been the toughest he had ever had in his career in non-League football.

And after contract talks stalled at last Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, that proved to be the last straw.




“It would have been quite easy to walk away at various points in the last year and I thought seriously hard about it,” he said.

“The only reason I did not leave was down to the players, staff and the fans as well as some of the brilliant people at the club, mainly John Teece.


“I did not want to let all those people down by walking away but once I realised I did not have the support from the board and the supporters’ society at Wednesday’s meeting I felt I had no choice but to leave.

“I am bitterly disappointed and upset because not long ago I said I wanted to be here in ten to 15 years’ time but unfortunately it could not come to that.”

After taking charge of the Rouslers, he guided the club to a second-placed finish in Midland League Division One – finishing behind Highgate United – and Les James Challenge Cup glory.

“First and foremost it was a really enjoyable season,” said Smith.

“The club, at that time, was not as big as it is now so it was a case of starting to put the building blocks in place.

“It was a shame we did not win the league but the crowds were improving and I brought the youth sides together so there was more interaction.”

The next season could be seen as one of frustration as the Rouslers lost two cup finals and once again claimed runners-up spot in the league, this time losing out to Coventry United.

But Smith stressed there was plenty of positives to take.

“In football terms we would have liked to have got promotion but once again it was about putting in the building blocks to progress,” he added.

“It was about making sure everything was right, building the size of the club and the fan base which led us nicely into the following season.”

And that season will be one which goes down long in the memory of Sporting fans as the club ended the campaign as ‘Invincible’ champions, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing 2-1 on aggregate to eventual runners-up Cleethorpes Town.

“It was a truly magical season for the level of football we were at,” said Smith.

“To have done what we did was a culmination of hard work over the previous two years.

“I had a feeling as the games went by we could go unbeaten but it was important we got the league won first before focusing on that.

“We also had an unbelievable run in the Vase and seeing crowds of 3,000 was fantastic – it’s just a shame we could not quite get to the final.

“Cleethorpes was the hardest game of my time here as when we needed to perform we didn’t but these things happen.

“I look back at that run and take great pride in it but it is also tinged with disappointment.”

And up until his departure this week, Sporting have started life at Step Five at a blistering pace and currently top the Midland League Premier Division with 15 games to go.

“I m flabbergasted that despite what was happening behind the scenes, we put ourselves in a fabulous position which is testament to the players and staff,” added Smith.

“They have managed to get into a fantastic position at the business end of the season and hopefully they can go on to secure another promotion.”

With his time now up at Sporting, Smith said the main reason behind him joining was when then-chairman John Teece ‘sold the project to him’.

“I felt like Bromsgrove was the perfect fit for me and that the possibilities were endless.

“I saw the opportunity as a project which would go far and once John sold it to me that was how the journey started.”

Smith now plans to take a holiday to relax and take his mind off what has been a rather turbulent week and only upon his return will he start thinking about football again.

Now a shareholder in Sporting, he hopes to return to the club in some capacity in the future but revealed he will soon be on the look-out for the next project.

“At the moment it is a time of reflection so I will sit down and look at what I have achieved,” he said.

“Then once everything has calmed down I will be geared up for the next challenge.”

Asked if he had any regrets in his time as manager, Smith said he had none but stated there were moments in games he looked critically upon himself.

“I should have changed the shape quicker when we were 1-0 down at Cleethorpes and similarly should have done the same against Hinckley at home in the FA Cup when were down to ten men,” he said.

“I did not get the formation right that day but that apart it has been a brilliant journey.”

When asked what the last thing he wanted to say, Smith added: “Bromsgrove will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope the fans have cherished the special moments just as much as I have.

“I would like to thank John Teece for bringing me here and then I’d like to thank the fans as they will always be in my heart because they mean so much to me.

“Hopefully I have left some magical memories for them to cherish for the future.”

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