Player boss goes despite survival

6 May 2017 By David Watters

Northwood will have a new manager at the helm when they return to EVO-STIK League Southern action after parting company with player-manager Mark Burgess.

Appointed Woods boss in 2012 as the successor to Gary Meakin, Burgess, pictured in action, stood down from his first managerial post after his side's third from bottom finish to the 2016-17 EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central campaign.

Despite securing survival with five points to spare with a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Dunstable on the final day of the season, Burgess left Northwood Park on Friday a year after guiding the club to Middlesex Senior Cup success in 2016 and top ten finishes in his three full seasons at the helm previously.

The 41-year-old, who made a total of 229 appearances and scored five goals in two spells since making his Woods debut in 2008, has played for a host of Non-League clubs in defence and midfield including AFC Hayes, Aylesbury United, Beaconsfield SYCOB, Berkhamsted, Boreham Wood, Kingsbury Town, North Greenford United, Wealdstone and Wembley.

The Woods confirmed the departure of Burgess on Friday in a brief statement on their website promising to update fans on their newly vacant manager's post.

Image courtesy of northwoodfc.com

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1

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