“I’ve been thinking about it for a while” – Martin on stepping down as Longlevens Co-Manager
Craig Martin admitted that his decision to step down as Co-Manager of Longlevens had been one he had been contemplating for a while and is now looking forward to helping off the pitch.
After helping steer his side to safety in the Hellenic Premier this season, the club announced that Martin would be officially stepping down after six and half seasons.
During this time, Martin had taken a break to help his son, Charlie, who was playing for Gloucester Schools as well as in the Longlevens youth setup.
But Martin returned to post during the 2023/24 season and speaking to Severn Sport for this weekend’s Buttee’s For Breakfast show, he admits that this decision is one he had been thinking about, but the time is ultimately right after being able to help the squad turn around their fortunes and end the season quite strongly.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” admitted Martin. “Around Christmas time I think I made my mind up then but wanted to carry the season through with Mike [Co-Manager Michael Palmer].
He came in around four years ago, so I wanted to see it out with him. The decision was made, confirmed, about six weeks ago but I wanted to keep it under wraps.
I didn’t want it to disturb the season for the players and everyone else at the club. When you’re a player, you don’t need distractions off the field with what is going on behind the scenes.” Martin added.
In the club’s announcement, they also confirmed that Michael Palmer was also departing the club, with a brand new management to come in and take Longlevens into their 11th season at step 5.
During the chat for the show ahead of Longlevens 3rds’ win over Cam Bulldogs on Wednesday night, Butler asked Martin whether Palmer’s decision to leave had influenced his decision to step down.
“Not really, over the seasons I’ve had Tommy Callinan, Darrell [Long], Tim Hall, Kavs [Luke Kavanagh] has dipped his toe in a couple of times to help me out, Kacey [Johnstone] so I’ve had it [others leaving] with different managers – I helped Mark Moore as well, so no one will make my mind up, it was always going to be my decision, what I want to do when I’m ready to do it.
And I feel this is the time, where I can help more off the field and behind the scenes, including helping the new manager comes in,” Martin said.
Martin will continue to be involved with the club, in more of a Director of Football type role, assisting all adult sides and in particular helping prepare Saw Mills for first team matches – a role he maintained during his initial break a couple of seasons ago.
“A lot of people don’t realise just how much I do behind the scenes [already],” laughed Martin. “It’s not just managing the firsts, off the field I help set everything up for my mum and my sister who are heavily involved with the club, I help Bill [Davis -Club Secretary] where I can help him.
We brought in Calum Newman, who has taken a load of pressure off me this year with the admin side of things, so I’ll help with that and going forward that’s what I want to be carrying on doing, helping off the pitch – so everything on the pitch is easier for the manager coming in and make their life a lot easier than how I feel mine has been for the last two years,” Martin admitted.
Listen to Craig Martin’s interview on this week’s Buttee’s For Breakfast on Saturday morning, where he talks about just how much the threat of relegation weighed on his mind, the importance of opening up and speaking to people and talks about the type of Manager that Longlevens need to come in.
