Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Marine announces the departure by mutual consent of Manager Carl Macauley tonight at a meeting with Club officials Paul Leary and Dave McMillan.
Marine currently lie in 22nd place, 11 points adrift of the safety zone having won only 5 league games this season. Macauley was appointed in the summer with assistants Gary Martindale and Anthony Wright who have also left the Club.

Taking over team affairs on a caretaker basis is current Marine defender Sean Hessey. Liverpool based Hessey, 36, is an experienced non-league campaigner who also holds a UEFA B coaching licence.

Marine Chairman Paul Leary said:

“I am very saddened at the departure of Carl Macauley tonight. The circumstances of our perilous league position however, with faint hopes of survival from relegation has ultimately resulted in the mutual decision made tonight by Dave and I with Carl for him to leave Marine. Against all the high expectations at the start of the season the situation we find ourselves in now has left us with no alternative but to make the changes that have been made. I thank Carl and his assistants Gary and Anthony for their efforts and I wish them well in the future.”

Paul Leary added:

“I thank Sean Hessey for being prepared to take on what is a most difficult challenge and he is responsible with immediate effect for all team affairs. We have effectively 12 cup finals to play through to the end of the season in a desperate effort to avoid relegation for the first time in our Club’s 120 year history. I have no doubt that Sean will do his absolute best with the players to restore some level of respectability and pride in our performances and results for the remainder of the season.”