Bracknell Town’s managers in the SB Group era

As Jordan Ive returns to manage Bracknell Town for a second time, Football in Berkshire takes a look back at the men in the hot seat after Keith Penicott-Bowen was replaced all the way back in 2015 under the SB Group stewardship.

Mark Tallentire

2015: Mark Tallentire appointed as Bracknell Town manager with the club 19th of 20 in the Hellenic Premier Division. Two years of success follow including runners-up in the Hellenic League Premier Division and three cup wins, but he departs in September 2017.

Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty

September 2017 to February 2018: When Tallentire left by ‘mutual consent’, the job of earning Bracknell promotion fell to the former Ascot United management duo of Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty.

The pair had been very successful at the Racecourse Ground and twice led the Yellamen to the quarter finals of the FA Vase – a feat they replicated with Bracknell only to see the side knocked out by Marske United in front of a full house at Larges Lane.

Carl Davies

February 2018 to November 2018: When Davies was appointed player manager in February his task was clear, win promotion. He was certainly confident when he spoke to FiB in March saying: “I’m very confident, we’ve done it before, we’ve gone on a run before. Last season we went on a 14 game winning streak and I am confident we can do it again.”

Of course he was very right to be and led Bracknell back to step four as well as lifting the Hellenic League Challenge Cup for the second season in a row.

Geoff Warner

November 2018 to May 2019: Returned to assist Carl Davies and stepped up when the centre back returned to his playing role.

Warner led Bracknell to the Isthmian League South Central play off final after finished runners up to Hayes & Yeading United in the regular season. 

Sam Lock

May 2019 to October 2019: The new manager came with bags of higher level experience having been assistant to Alan Devonshire at Maidenhead United and was part of the Magpies management team during the promotion season to the National League. Lock’s spell in charge was beset by injuries, not least to star forward Shane Cooper-Clark.

Mark Tallentire and Aaron Steadman

October 2019: We wrote: “The appointment of Tallentire is the former Robins players third spell in charge of the club having previously managed alongside his brother Clive between 1999 and 2001 – taking the club to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup.”

Bobby Wilkinson

December 2019: Wilkinson joined Bracknell with an impressive pedigree as a manager. He was the man in charge at Hungerford as they climbed the non league football pyramid to the Vanarama National League South and went on to manage Wealdstone at the same level.

He joined Bracknell and took them through an incredible 21/22 season where the Robins won the Isthmian League South Central Division One conceding just 12 goals.

Carl Withers and Jamie McClurg

September 2022: Ambitions to manage at a higher level lead Wilkinson to resign at the start of the 2022 season and the Robins cast their eye down the Binfield Road to Hill Farm Lane and the impressive young duo Carl Withers and Jamie McClurg – both former Bracknell players who had lead the Moles to the FA Vase Final and promotion from the Hellenic League, building an impressive side in the process.

The standout moments of the duos reign will have been the Ipswich Town FA Cup First Round home tie at Bottom Meadow followed up by a trip to Cambridge United in the same round the following season.

Jordan Ive

January 2024: Ive managed the Robins sister side Sandhurst Town before taking over the managerial role at Bracknell – initially on an interim basis and lead the side to the Southern League Premier Division South, losing the play-off semi-final 2-1 to AFC Totton.

Jon Underwood

September 2024: Another former player and manager in charge. Underwood was appointed for a second spell by new chairman Andy Hunt and set about rebuilding the side after a number of departures. Lead the Robins to the Berks & Bucks County FA Senior Men’s Cup Final but departed the club days before the match.

Bobby Wilkinson

April 2025: One Berks & Bucks County Cup win and four Southern League defeats.

Jordan Ive

April 2025: Ive will have one game to re-print his style and beliefs on the squad – it couldn’t be more perilous either with the Robins needing at least a point to guarantee survival on the final day of the Southern League season.