Former Grimsby Town manager leaves new job abruptly in wake of 2009 court conviction backlash

 

Ex-Mariner Michael Jolley - conviction has come back to haunt him

FORMER Grimsby Town manager Michael Jolley (48) has stepped down - after just two days - from his similar role at non-league Bury FC.

The parting of the ways comes by mutual consent after some fans, plus others connected with the club, objected to the appointment because Jolley has a 2009 conviction for having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

His defence was that he thought the girl was 19, but this was not  sufficient to save him from the conviction - nor, 16 years later, from the backlash in Bury.

In a statement on social media earlier this week, he said: "After a period of reflection over the weekend, it has become apparent that my appointment at Bury FC has become a distraction for the club and so I have decided to relinquish the opportunity to become first team manager.

"In summary, I do not wish my presence to deter the board from its mission of returning the club to its rightful place in the English Football League, and, on this basis I will stand aside to allow the club to move forward with all stakeholders aligned behind the club's board."

"I would like to wish the board, the players and the supporters, the very best for the future, and hope the club can continue its journey back to where it belongs."  

In its statement, Bury FC said: "The club can confirm that Michael Jolley has today been relieved of his duties as first-team manager by mutual consent.

"The board recognises the strength of feeling expressed in recent days by supporters, staff, partners and players,plus  the very real impact the board’s decision to appoint Michael has had on individuals connected to the club.

"We believe this step is necessary to help restore confidence, create space for reflection and allow Bury FC to move forward in a way that reflects our values and responsibilities."

The conviction did not cast any shadow over Jolley while he was in charge, between March 2018 and November 2019, at Blundell Park, nor during his subsequent spell at Barrow AFC. 

But times were different then. Rightly or wrongly, today's society is less forgiving of past transgressions.

A Cambridge University graduate with a degree in Economics, Jolley once worked as a City trader on the global money markets.

Before coming to Grimsby, his football experience extended to having worked at  the academies at Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest before taking a coaching role at Falkirk.

Subsequently he had coaching roles at Lincoln City, Crewe Alexandra, Burnley and Swedish club AFC Eskilstuna.