Waterford FC has sacked Danny Searle as first-team head coach.
Searle arrived at the Blues in June 2022 and guided the side to a promotion playoff final defeat against UCD.
𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲
👉 https://t.co/efdJab53FS#WaterfordFC pic.twitter.com/PrispQsVhM
— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) March 27, 2023
A club statement reads: "Waterford Football Club can confirm Danny Searle has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach.
"Everyone at Waterford FC would like to place on record their thanks to Danny for his hard work and professionalism during his time at the club.
"The search for his replacement will begin immediately, with Brian Murphy taking charge of the first team in the interim period."
A disappointing start to the 2023 campaign see's the side in fifth position with 8 points from a possible 15.
Despite losing a solitary game, they trail promotion-rivals Galway United by 10 points, albeit having played one game less.
Defeat for @WaterfordFCie at Ozier Park against @CorkCityFC in the #MunsterSeniorCup ⚽️https://t.co/vG1Gy5DHf7@Danny_Searle | @shaunconnolly85 | @LeagueofIreland
— Beat 102 103 (@beat102103) March 22, 2023
Defeat in the Munster Senior Cup on Tuesday, March 21, was Searle's final game in charge.
The Blues manager offered his thoughts after a wet night in Ozier Park.
"It was an opportunity to give the lads who haven't been getting games minutes," he said.
"There's an opportunity to give 19's and 17's football, which is a massive positive. However, I wanted to win the game.
"I think, overall on the night, the Cork lads wanted it more than we did, and that's the disappointment.
"But, as I said, we used it as an exercise to get minutes into the legs of players, but the disappointment is we should have won the game."
Murphy will take control of the side for Friday's fixture at the RSC against Finn Harps.
The Waterford native announced his retirement in January after three seasons at the club.
🏟 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐒𝐂
Tickets are now on sale as Waterford FC return to the RSC this Friday with the visit of Finn Harps.
🎫 Avoid the queues, buy online 👉 https://t.co/xoaCAfx5t7#WaterfordFC pic.twitter.com/cu2golitDX
— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) March 25, 2023
The action gets underway at 7.45 pm on Friday, March 31, with the faithful support again plunged into an uncertain future about their football club.
