Laying Down The Law

With Keith Long exiting Waterford FC yesterday, Englishman Matt Lawlor has been named as Interim Head Coach while the search for a permanent manager takes place. Whether that could be Lawlor himself could depend on how the next few weeks go. It's safe to assume that, as this six-game losing streak has gone on, the club’s administration has been considering their options so the process may not have just begun yesterday.

Whoever is in charge, the blame for current woes can’t only lie with the manager. From an outsider’s view, it hasn’t appeared a happy camp in recent times. There has been a lack of fight in many games and so this is an opportunity now for players to prove themselves. It’s a Munster derby in Turner’s Cross tomorrow so let’s hope the team can release the shackles and play with pride.

There was a team meeting this morning which Lawlor attended. It’s obviously impossible for him to change much in 24 hours, so we can't expect major alterations to the team yet. Playing with passion and energy, cutting down on errors, and using their strengths (Amond’s finishing if opportunities are created, for one) might be enough to get back on track.

 

Matt with his son Max at the RSC last summer - photograph by Noel Browne

 

If it’s any kind of omen, Lawlor has been caretaker manager of Fleetwood Town for two games and they won both 2-0. The first was an EFL Trophy tie at home to Tranmere Rovers in September 2023 after Scott Brown left the club. Jayden Stockley and Phoenix Patterson scored the goals. The second was at Christmas 2024 after Charlie Adam was sacked. Lawlor led the team to a home league win against Chesterfield with goals from Matty Virtue and Kian Harratt.

The 36-year-old is a native of the Fylde coast region, coming from Poulton-le-Fylde about halfway between Fleetwood and Blackpool. In his playing days, he was a midfielder and, later, centre back with several English non-league clubs including Farsley Celtic in the National League North (as it is now known) and a little in the National League in 2007/8. Matt then spent nine seasons captaining Bamber Bridge of the Northern Premier League, combining playing with coaching. He started his coaching career at Manchester United as a Hub Development Officer in disadvantaged areas when he was 26.

Lawlor first joined Fleetwood as a youth coach in 2019 before becoming Head of Coaching and Player Development in 2021. He took over as manager of the Under 21s in December 2022 and had that role until he moved to Waterford last April when he replaced Alan Reynolds as assistant manager to Keith Long. While working with Fleetwood, he completed the UEFA A Licence.

 

Captaining Bamber Bridge

 

Matt made a very positive impact here last year. By all accounts, he is very well-liked and respected by players. I reached out to a few people today and was told he “is very good on tactics”, “is a great man to have in the dressing room for pre-match motivation”, and “works very hard in preparation”.

He settled in wonderfully well in Waterford last year – even playing local junior league football with Hibernians, where he was extremely popular. On leaving to return to Fleetwood in November, he told club media that “My time at Waterford FC was nothing short of amazing. I have become a huge fan of the club, area and country due to my experience this season. It meant a huge amount to me and my family. The chats in and around the town, the warm nature of the people of Waterford and the pride you all have for your city and county are something that I loved about this past season.”

His move back to Fleetwood came at a volatile time. He was appointed as a First Team Coach to assist Charlie Adam, but the Scotsman’s time was up soon after and he was sacked shortly before Christmas. Pete Wild was given the manager’s job, but Lawlor had to step in as caretaker for that Boxing Day fixture against Chesterfield. He has spent the last four months working with Wild in League Two, but I know that he has kept in touch with Waterford and is acutely aware of how the season has progressed.

It’s his task now to help the team regroup and get back to their best. He’ll have the support of a large and loud travelling contingent of fans for a critical six-pointer so the timing may well be perfect. Win the derby and you’re an immediate hero.