Bray Wanderers will travel to United Park to face Drogheda United in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday without caretaker manager Maciej Tarnogrodzki after the Polish coach vacated the role, citing a need for time to “reflect”.
Tarnogrodzki took over the post in a temporary capacity at the start of April after Alan Mathews and his backroom team resigned en masse.
An abject start to the season had left the Seagulls rooted to the bottom of the table with no points and no goals from their first five games.
Matters off the field were equally shambolic, with the club and Mathews subsequently confirming a “breakdown in communication”.
The new caretaker manager proved quite the catalyst in Bray’s fortunes, overseeing a 3-1 dismantling of Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds and a 4-0 drubbing of Limerick FC at the Carlisle Grounds.
The honeymoon period stalled in a 0-0 draw away to Derry City, but recent matches have seen a regression to their form of old.
Shamrock Rovers inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Tarnogrodzki’s charges and a Galway United not known for their prowess in front of goal triumphed 5-0 on the east coast.
Bray’s season reached a new nadir when they shipped eight goals at Oriel Park in a 8-1 defeat by Dundalk.
A statement from Bray Wanderers read: “Maciej was reluctant to take on the role and initially only agreed to three matches or four at maximum.
"The process of getting a new manager in place took longer than expected and the club prevailed on Maciej and his team to continue indefinitely.
“This he agreed to, but pointed out the risks involved in the post and that caretaker managers have in reality a very short lifespan.
“That recent results did not go his way are far from a reflection on Maciej – rather a reflection on us in not getting a new manager in place. However, Maciej does not apportion blame – he just wants the club to be successful.
“Throughout this process he has been an excellent ambassador for the club. He has carried out his duties in a professional manner at all times.
“Maciej has asked for time out to reflect – and of course he has earned that. We hope to have him back in action with the club in the near future.”
