11-12-2025, 11:07
League Two outfit Barrow have parted company with head coach Andy Whing.
He leaves with assistant Craig Pead after less than 12 months in charge, with the Bluebirds 18th in League Two.
Whing arrived from Solihull Moors in January to replace Stephen Clemence and led them to 16th after a strong finish to the season.
But they have struggled for much of this campaign and a 3-0 loss to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday was a sixth straight game without a league victory to leave them only four points clear of relegation.
Neil McDonald, who only arrived at the club last month, has been placed in interim charge.
Whing came to prominence at National League Solihull, having guided them to both the National League play-off final and the FA Trophy Final at Wembley in the space of six days in May 2024, although Moors lost both games on penalties.
So moving up into the EFL to take over at the SO Legal Stadium was the next step for a man who had started in the Southern League with Banbury United with both head coach and club happy to play the 'underdog' role.
Barrow were 18th and falling down the table, on a run of one win in 15 games, when he arrived and his side delivered 31 points from 21 matches to stabilise their situation, including a run of only one defeat in their last 13.
Although there was disappointment when they lost the derby at home to Carlisle United.
However, there was a big churn in the squad over the summer with 16 arrivals and 17 departures with a number of key players who were out of contract moving up to League One clubs.
They began the campaign badly with six losses in eight games, but an unbeaten run of seven games looked to have steadied the ship.
But four of those were draws, meaning they have never really got away from danger. With three defeats in their last four games, only two home league wins out of 10 and just 18 goals in 19 games, the decision was taken to dispense with Whing's services.
'Position does not reflect quality and investment'
"After careful consideration, we feel that our current league position does not reflect the quality and the investment that has been put into the squad that we have assembled," said chairman Paul Hornby.
"We believe that making a change at this stage of the season gives us the best possible chance to begin climbing the league table."
As Whing departs, the Bluebirds will begin the search for a ninth permanent boss since they returned to the EFL after a 48-year exile in 2020.
He leaves with assistant Craig Pead after less than 12 months in charge, with the Bluebirds 18th in League Two.
Whing arrived from Solihull Moors in January to replace Stephen Clemence and led them to 16th after a strong finish to the season.
But they have struggled for much of this campaign and a 3-0 loss to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday was a sixth straight game without a league victory to leave them only four points clear of relegation.
Neil McDonald, who only arrived at the club last month, has been placed in interim charge.
Whing came to prominence at National League Solihull, having guided them to both the National League play-off final and the FA Trophy Final at Wembley in the space of six days in May 2024, although Moors lost both games on penalties.
So moving up into the EFL to take over at the SO Legal Stadium was the next step for a man who had started in the Southern League with Banbury United with both head coach and club happy to play the 'underdog' role.
Barrow were 18th and falling down the table, on a run of one win in 15 games, when he arrived and his side delivered 31 points from 21 matches to stabilise their situation, including a run of only one defeat in their last 13.
Although there was disappointment when they lost the derby at home to Carlisle United.
However, there was a big churn in the squad over the summer with 16 arrivals and 17 departures with a number of key players who were out of contract moving up to League One clubs.
They began the campaign badly with six losses in eight games, but an unbeaten run of seven games looked to have steadied the ship.
But four of those were draws, meaning they have never really got away from danger. With three defeats in their last four games, only two home league wins out of 10 and just 18 goals in 19 games, the decision was taken to dispense with Whing's services.
'Position does not reflect quality and investment'
"After careful consideration, we feel that our current league position does not reflect the quality and the investment that has been put into the squad that we have assembled," said chairman Paul Hornby.
"We believe that making a change at this stage of the season gives us the best possible chance to begin climbing the league table."
As Whing departs, the Bluebirds will begin the search for a ninth permanent boss since they returned to the EFL after a 48-year exile in 2020.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?