Surprise as Claridge Leaves Salisbury

One of the best-known names involved in the Pitching In Southern Football League, Steve Claridge, has ended his time as a manager and director of Premier Division South club Salisbury.

Claridge had been associated with Salisbury since 2014, serving as both director and manager since the club’s resurrection and ironically, departs the Raymond McEnhill Stadium after they had won 4-2 at Tiverton Town on Wednesday night – a result that took the Whites into the top five.

Amassing 1,000 appearances and over 250 goals at a number of clubs, most notable Portsmouth, Leicester City and Millwall, Claridge finally hung up his boots in 2012 after helping Gosport Borough to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division.

Playing for an astonishing 29 years (some in a player-manager capacity), he ended up representing 22 clubs including three spells at Weymouth and three spells at Millwall.

He also won the Second Division title and Football League Trophy with Birmingham City and the League Cup with Leicester City.

Having already had management experience at Portsmouth, Weymouth and a 36-day appointment as manager of Millwall in 2005 he joined Salisbury in 2015 as manager after he purchased the club with a group of fans from the club’s administrator.

Prior to joining Salisbury, Claridge had forged a successful media career with the BBC working across the radio network and the television network on shows such as BBC Radio 5 Live, Football Focus and Final Score.

A statement on the club’s website reads: “Salisbury FC has today parted company with director and manager, Steve Claridge.

“On behalf of everyone at Salisbury FC, the club would like to place on record its gratitude to Steve during his time with the club, firstly as one of the group of five that formed Salisbury FC at the end of 2014, and then as team manager, gaining 2 promotions.

“Steve will rightly always have a place in Salisbury FC’s history.

“However, with the club no longer involved in either the FA Cup or the FA Trophy this season, it is important to look to the longer term and the ongoing development and success of the club.

“With this in mind, the appointment of a new manager to lead the club forward is seen as essential and we hope to make an announcement in the near future”.

Salisbury Web Site