Scunthorpe United can confirm that, following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, Jimmy Dean, Chris Plummer and Ant Coombe will be leaving the club.
Planning for 2024-25 commenced immediately off the pitch following last weekend’s play-off semi-final defeat, with budgeting put in place and confirmed for a second year in Vanarama National League North. As the club look towards sustainability, and bringing expenditure in line with the level, and what the football club can afford, it became apparent that a reset was required moving forward into the new season.
Joining the club at the end of January 2023, first team manager Dean, and assistant manager Plummer arrived into a new regime, shortly following by Coombe as strength and conditioning coach, with the trio unable to steer the side away from relegation to Step 2 football.
Despite a positive season in 2023-24, United were unable to make an immediate return to the National League Premier Division, finishing second in the league and eventually falling short on penalties in the play-off semi-final last weekend.
The year had returned the club to winning matches regularly, and reinstalled a unity between the community, the supporters and Scunthorpe United following, and through, much adversity. All the while, in the background, the club has been battling significant inherited debts, with the new ownership working each month to fulfil the massive playing staff wage bill that had been inherited by the new Board, and installed at the start of the campaign.
The club would like to place on record their thanks for the hard work, commitment and dignity shown by Jimmy, Chris and Ant during some of the darkest days Scunthorpe United have been through in its 125-year history. All three leave with our very best wishes for the future.
Owner and chairperson Michelle Harness said: “To be saying goodbye to Jimmy, Chris and Ant is undoubtedly one of our toughest decisions since we took ownership of the club, and it is a decision we’ve made with a very heavy heart.
“We inherited significant debt, along with a budget and payroll which by far exceeds the level that we are currently operating at, and we need to work hard this summer to bring that back to a level where we can both compete at, but also remain sustainable, and this must start at football management level, and then focusing on the playing staff.
“We remain wholly committed to recruiting and retaining players for the 2024-25 season who fall within our budget, and will give us the best possible chance to see us competing at the top of the league again.
“Jimmy, Chris and Ant have conducted themselves brilliantly throughout our time at the club, and will always be welcome at the Attis Arena should they wish to visit us. I would like to personally thank each of them for their hard work and endeavours while they represented our Board, the badge, and most importantly, you as the fans of Scunthorpe United.”
