Bracknell Town appoint ex-Notts County assistant to Bottom Meadow hot seat

Bracknell Town have made another managerial change as the club seek to arrest a poor start to the Southern League Premier Division South season.

Matthew Saunders, most recently Assistant Manager at EFL side Notts County in the new man in charge according to reports and his first task will be avoiding the kind of FA Cup shellacking Tadley Calleva dished out to the Robins Southern League rivals Weymouth.

Saunders appointment means he will be Bracknell’s fourth manager in 16 games after Jon Underwood was replaced last season by Bobby Wilkinson who himself lasted five games. Jordan Ive’s second spell in charge at Bottom Meadow lasted just nine games.

Saunders though has the kind of coaching credentials that will appeal having worked at Enterprise National League Wealdstone and more recently as assistant to Stuart Maynard Notts County in January 2024.

The Chertsey-born new boss’s playing career took in a youth career with Fulham and spells with Lincoln City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Dover Athletic, Aldershot Town and Hemel Hempstead Town.

Related: Bracknell Town’s managers in the SB Group era

Bracknell Town statement on Jordan Ive in full

Club Statement – Jordan Ive Removed from position as First Team Manager

Issued on behalf of Chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse

Bracknell Town Football Club can confirm that we have parted ways with First Team Manager, Jordan Ive, with immediate effect.

Jordan, in his second spell with the club, departs following a run of performances, results, and decisions that have not aligned with the club’s ambitions or long-term direction.

Alongside Jordan’s departure, his coaching staff – Sam Hawkins and Shaun Andrews – have also left the club.

The club has already begun putting plans in place for the remainder of the season, and further details regarding the First Team’s management structure will be confirmed in due course.

Kayne Steinborn-Busse
Chairman, Bracknell Town Football Club

Bracknell Town take on Tadley Calleva at Bottom Meadow in the the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday. Tickets are available here.