Thank You, Danny

Baffins Milton Rovers Football Club can confirm that Danny Thompson has stepped down as First-Team Manager, effective immediately.

Thompson joined Baffins in the summer of 2020 as assistant manager to Shaun Wilkinson. He took the first-team helm following Wilkinson’s departure at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

That summer, Thompson oversaw a significant period of rebuilding, signing the likes of Charlie Oakwell, Kelvin Robinson, Ryan Kennedy and Roux Hardcastle.

And Thompson’s first season as manager was a success. His first competitive victory was a 4-1 triumph against Alton in the FA Cup on 5 August 2022. He led Baffins to break several records, including the club’s biggest-ever away victory at step-five level, a 6-1 win over Brockenhurst.

The club’s furthest venture in the Hampshire Senior Cup came under Thompson’s leadership, narrowly losing on penalties to National League side Aldershot Town at the Quarter-Final stage.

Thompson then made further history by guiding Baffins to a second Wessex League Cup triumph after a dramatic 4-2 victory in front of over 600 spectators in the showpiece event.

The following season saw Baffins achieve their best-ever finish at step-five level, securing the final play-off spot on the last day of the campaign.

The start of 2024/25 was promising for Thompson’s team, with eight consecutive victories, including booking their place in the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Cup for the first time. However, the recent run of results has been challenging, only tasting two victories in the last ten matches.

With the team currently six points adrift of the play-off positions, Thompson has decided to step down, believing it is in the club’s best interests to move forward in a new direction: “I’d like to thank Steve Cripps for trusting me to manage Baffins.

‘We’ve had a great couple of years and the players have given everything during my reign. Unfortunately, the last couple of weeks have been difficult on and off the pitch and I feel now if the right time for the club to move forward in a different direction.”

The club would like to thank Danny Thompson for his dedication and service to Baffins Milton Rovers Football Club, and we wish him the very best for his future endeavours.

Matt Jones, Thompson’s assistant manager, will take interim charge of the club while the search for a new first-team manager is on-going.