Gateshead have sacked manager Lee Cattermole after a poor start to the National League season. Assistant manager Martin Smith has also left the club, with Gateshead bottom of the table on four points from their opening 12 games.
The decision followed Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Worthing, a result that extended Gateshead’s losing run to seven consecutive defeats in all competitions. Cattermole, a former Sunderland midfielder, joined The Heed in June on a two-year deal but leaves after overseeing just one win and 11 defeats in his first 14 games in charge.
The managerial change comes amid significant uncertainty off the pitch. Gateshead have announced that majority shareholder Mark Nellist is to gift his shares to American-based director Stephen Paylor, subject to approval from the Independent Football Regulator. Nellist resigned from the board of directors last week and withdrew his funding support from the club.
Players and staff have yet to receive their wages for September. The club has appealed to its remaining shareholders for time to find fresh investment.
In a club statement, Gateshead said Paylor had indicated he was unable to provide funding on his own and was relying on joint investment from a third party whose initial strong interest appeared to have waned. The statement added that, in the circumstances, it appeared unlikely that the share transfer from Nellist to Paylor would gain IFR approval.