CONFERENCE: First Team Changes at Farnborough Town FC

Farnborough Town Press Release - 25 February 2005

Dean Austin was released by Farnborough Town FC on 24 February 2005 as First Team Manager.

The club would like to thank Dean Austin for all of his help and assistance over this season and wish him all the best in the future. Unfortunately, given the team's position in the league and the recent run of results the Board do not believe that the present management team can remain.

The club will be seeking to look for a fresh input into the management of the team and will be considering applications for the position of First Team Manager.

Caretaker Manager and Coach

In the meantime the club have sought to appoint a caretaker manager, namely Neil Sillett, and as first team coach Garry Thompson, to take management of the first team in the short term.

Neil Sillett, is the third generation Sillett to be involved in professional football. Neil had a brief playing career curtailed by injury. Since 1985, Neil has worked as a trainer at Coventry, followed by nine years at Portsmouth and Derby where he worked with Steve McLaren, Steve Round and the late Ray Harford. In 2001, Neil set up as an agent, working with all the top clubs. He had a small break assisting Kit Symons at Crystal Palace during his caretaker role there last season.

Garry Thompson, an ex England U21 international, had successful spells as a player at Coventry, West Brom, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, Cardiff and Watford. Thompson had success as a manager at Bristol Rovers, plotting a cup win at Pride Park against then Premier League opponents Derby. At Rovers, Garry nurtured players such as Jamie Cureton and Jason Roberts and was involved in the rise of the Championship's top scorer Nathan Ellington. Garry has also been caretaker manager at Brentford.