The downfall of Andy Sinton as AFC Telford boss

The former England international had returned the Bucks to the top tier of non-League football in his first season at the helm.

Survival in the Blue Square Bet Premier the following season, albeit with two games to spare, only added to that legacy.

And with 14 games of this season gone, it looked as though Sinton was on the verge of something even more special.

Telford's spectacular 4-1 win away at promotion contenders Dartford on October 9 had left the Bucks sitting in eighth place, with five wins and six draws.

Coupled with a rousing 1-0 win away at pre-season title contenders Luton in August, it had been a far better than expected start to a campaign in which the Bucks had been tipped to struggle.

The quality of football being played was also being lauded by the fans and Sinton's summer signings were paying huge dividends.

With the arrival of Steven Leslie, Luke Hubbins and Kieron St Aimie in particular Sinton had arguably –on paper at least – assembled the strongest side in AFC Telford's short history.

There had certainly been no indication of the alarming decline in fortune that was about to begin.

But the dismal run of 16 league games without a win which followed turned a season of great promise into one that hangs in the balance.

And it ultimately sounded the death knell for Sinton's otherwise impressive two-and-a-half year reign at the helm.

Today's announcement came somewhat out of the blue although it should be remembered a number of managers have been shown the door for less.

Marcus Law's departure at Tamworth – after the Lambs had won just once in six league games to slip to within four points of danger and Jim Gannon at Stockport County who had won just one of their last nine league matches – are two examples from the same division that come to mind.

The Bucks' alarming slide down the table makes up only a small portion of an otherwise impressive tenure for the departed manager.

But it began to look an increasingly inevitable conclusion as the losses, and more importantly the lack of wins to balance them out, mounted up. This was unfortunately no blip, but has ended up being surpassing the unenviable 14 game winless run of ancestor club Wellington Town, set in 1913/14.

The magnitude of that run now leaves whoever replaces him with a big task – and just under three months to save the Bucks from relegation come the end of the season.

The usual groundswells of discontent among some fans could gradually be detected as the Bucks failed to build on their win against the Darts.

But the alarm bells began to ring louder during a disastrous December, which saw Telford twice surrender leads in stoppage-time against relegation rivals Barrow and Stockport, coupled with three straight defeats against Wrexham and Hyde in the league as well as King's Lynn in the FA Trophy.

The latter, to a side playing in the Evo-Stik first Division South, appeared to split supporters over the issue of whether the Bucks' manager should remain in charge.

While many angry fans called for the boss's head following that embarrassing 3-1 defeat talk of dressing room problems and a 'poison' undermining the team also elicited sympathy and support from many.

But an appalling start to a crucial January increased the pressure further. Defeat to high-flying Wrexham on New Year's Day was largely accepted due to the standard of the opposition, and a battling draw at Hereford also offered some encouragement of a revival by the Bucks.

But losses against two more of their fellow strugglers – Southport and Braintree – plunged Telford into the relegation zone for the first time since their promotion to the non-league's top flight in 2011.

Failure to win any of their next three games against Luton, Alfreton and Kidderminster proved to be the final straw.

Such is a manager's lot that for all he achieved – and there were many things achieved with a part-time team and operating with limited finances no less – many will be relieved to see him go.

But it should also be remembered what a significant contribution he has made to the club in his tenure.

The spine-tingling euphoria of the Blue Square Bet North play-off win over Guiseley in front of more than 5,000 people at the New Bucks Head will arguably be remembered as his finest hour.

But the victory at Luton and the performance at Dartford will also live long in the memory.

By Matthew Viney