Barrow announce the decision to sack Andy Whing and name Neil McDonald as their interim manager after a 3-0 defeat to Tranmere.
The club currently sit 18th in the League Two, just four points above the drop zone, following a sixth consecutive league game without a victory.
Whing had been named as their manager back in January and guided them to a 16th-place finish for the 2024/25 season.
Now former Blackpool and Carlisle manager Neil McDonald, who joined only last month as Joint Assistant Head Coach, has been appointed interim head coach.
Club Statement: Andy Whinghttps://t.co/p9aV2L4bVe pic.twitter.com/SP1EfytX2q
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) December 10, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Barrow AFC can confirm the departure of Head Coach Andy Whing, and Assistant Head Coach Craig Pead.
Chairman Paul Hornby said “We have taken the decision to part company with Andy Whing and Craig Pead with immediate effect. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. After careful consideration, we feel that our current league position does not reflect the quality and the investment that has been put into the squad that we have assembled. We believe that making a change at this stage of the season gives us the best possible chance to begin climbing the league table.
Andy and Craig joined us almost a year ago, and throughout their time here they have conducted themselves with professionalism, dedication, and integrity. They have been a credit to themselves from the moment they walked through the door. Unfortunately, football can demand difficult choices, and this is one of them.
We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Andy and Craig for their hard work and commitment, and we wish them nothing but success in their future endeavours.”
Neil McDonald will assume duties as Interim First Team Head Coach. He helped guided the club to safety in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.
Speaking on his return in November, he said: “As soon as I spoke with Andy and Craig, I was impressed by their passion and eagerness to succeed and was a very appealing factor in re-joining the club.
“I have been in this week and been very impressed with the standard in training and quality we have in the squad and am very excited for the weekend and what we can achieve together.”
Whing said, after being asked if Barrow would appeal against Canavan’s dismissal: “I would like to appeal all three decisions. It is shocking. Those decisions are embarrassing.
“He couldn’t wait to give a penalty. We are getting punished by stupid decisions.
“But who cares about all that? When we are on top in the first half, we have got to score.
“We just don’t seem to get off the mark and score that early goal. We always then give ourselves a mountain to climb.
“We put loads of balls into the box but are not getting on the end of them. We have had 14 shots and not scored.
“We were good in the first half but didn’t do enough. So, I am highly frustrated.”
Tranmere manager Andy Crosby, who also had his name taken by the referee in the second half, said:
“We are making progress and I can see the belief in the group growing. That’s four games unbeaten and 10 points.
“We were deserving of the three points, the three goals and the clean sheet
“It was a good night but we want more good nights, and it is my job to keep driving improvements on and off the pitch.
“In the first half, against the wind, we stayed in the game, showed real resilience, we dealt with crosses really well and got a lot of first contacts.
“We showed good organisation to make sure we got into half time 0-0. That was a really important factor.
“In the second, we had to do all the basics again and not blame conditions. We found a brilliant moment from Charlie and real calmness from Joe and Kristian to convert penalties.”
Here’s how fans reacted after Barrow sack Andy Whing and name an interim manager after their 3-0 defeat to Tranmere…
@StuartandRosie: Sad that it didn’t work but this had to happen. Have to question Wood’s role. Quality of player has to be questioned and now those payers are tied into contracts and they aren’t exactly assets at the moment.
@TaylorBAFC: What quality has the investment brought in, Paul? The recruitment has been abysmal for far too long. A change in manager just papers over the cracks – for how long? Wood out next or we will just continue to rinse and repeat this monotonous cycle.
@DamianReynold16: “Quality investment” not a chance thrown him under the bus here basically saying he was the whole problem, some of those quality signings are currently injured, may be the right call but wood has some responsibility
@RonanMacca99: Whing was someone I really wanted to be successful. The bloke really understood what it meant to manage a football club like ours in conversation and I can’t lie and pretend I’m not a bit gutted it hasn’t worked out. Do I solely think the blame lies at his door? Absolutely not
@HarveyDale12: Embarrassing. Wood should’ve been the first to go after his shambolic recruitment!!
@JamesHibbert11: Not nice to see someone sacked but it needed to be done unfortunately one of the main culprits still somehow keeps his job wood needs to go
@KingyG7: Best of luck to Andy Whing at his next club. Hope he does well going forward. Real shame but understandable decision
@biscuitmanDan: Whing needed to go unfortunately but he shouldn’t be the sole victim. Wood also needs to go, he has presided over the club signing some right dross
@StandingAlone77: Deluding themselves if they think they have a good side. Its woeful Whitfield apart. Bottom half L2 at best across the pitch. Nobody improves that squad. Their best hope is that
@riegaan: Wonder how many times they’ll go through this cycle before sacking their DoF
@BAFCSAMUEL234: Honestly fuck off don’t care how shit we are doing he’s a great bloke who wants the best for the club should of gave til Christmas atleast fuck me
@Lukejst: Shame as he was a really likeable guy, but his stubborn tactics has cost him in the end. He 100% isn’t the only issue though, Iain Wood sacked next, otherwise the next guy will suffer the same way Clemence and Whing did. 2 years of shocking recruitment, and it’s showing.
@Dannyowen98: Couldn’t have made my thoughts more clear last night. However, the blame can’t solely lie at the door of Andy Whing. The recruitment of this football club for years has been appalling.
@Adam_2198: Rinse and repeat again. Wood has to go, far too many failures over the past 18 months
@iamtherealgrout: Really liked Andy but think it was time to part ways. Best wishes Andy & Craig
@Lukejst: Iain Wood next 👍
@dudeville: And Iain Wood remains? Pathetic
@c_f_2023: WOOD NEXT PLEASE! Thanks in advance!!
@CM01__: Only 20% of the problem solved. Need to get rid of that pretender Wood now, might be a solid agent but he’s a clueless DOF.
@TaylorBAFC: This is a huge shame. He was a proper likeable bloke so I’m gutted it hasn’t worked out after such a promising start when he arrived. Ultimately, it’s a results business and this outcome was likely given the general mood around the club. But I don’t think anything changes…
