Growing concerns before Defoe exit - Woking director

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Woking director of football Jody Brown has said concerns were building inside the club before former England striker Jermain Defoe left his role as manager. Woking announced earlier this week that Defoe and the National League club had mutually agreed to end his tenure immediately, only four months after he replaced Neal Ardley and after six league matches in charge.

Brown said Defoe had continued to give upbeat feedback about the season ahead, both in public and within the club, which he said made the sudden exit and ensuing speculation understandable. However, Brown said recent input from players, staff and other departments had raised issues about preparations. He said he asked Defoe and assistant Paul Bracewell for a short report on squad depth, recruitment plans and operational problems so the club could offer support, but that it was not provided despite repeated requests.

According to Brown, a meeting was then arranged with directors, the manager, assistant manager and head of operations to review readiness for the new campaign, but Defoe and Bracewell did not attend that meeting or the day’s training session. Brown said Defoe had not directly raised serious concerns with him and that he would not speculate on the reasons for the departure. The timing is notable because Woking’s season opener against Sutton United was two weeks away.

Defoe retired as a player in 2022 after a career that included spells at West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Sunderland and England, where he scored 20 goals in 57 appearances. He later worked in coaching roles at Rangers and Tottenham’s academy. Brown said he accepted responsibility for appointing Defoe but noted that playing success does not always carry into management.