Woking’s director of football Jody Brown has launched a scathing attack on Jermain Defoe after the former England striker abruptly walked away from his role as manager of the National League club this week.
Defoe’s contract was mutually terminated on Thursday, bringing an end to his first senior managerial appointment after just four months and six matches in charge. The 43-year-old reportedly failed to attend training on Thursday before phoning the Surrey club to confirm his departure.
Brown, who has himself faced significant backlash from supporters since Defoe’s exit, issued a lengthy statement on Saturday morning laying bare the circumstances behind the split. Sources have indicated that internal friction between Defoe and a senior figure within the Woking hierarchy played a part in the breakdown.
The departure leaves Woking searching for a new manager just a fortnight before their season opener against Sutton United.
Jermain Defoe’s first managerial role has come to a sudden and unexpected end after the former England and Tottenham striker parted company with National League side Woking just four months into his tenure | GETTY
In his statement, Brown revealed that warning signs had emerged in the weeks leading up to Defoe’s departure. “In recent weeks there had been feedback from across the club, including players, staff and other departments, regarding growing concerns,” he said.
Seeking to address the situation, Brown asked Defoe and his assistant Paul Bracewell to produce a short document setting out where the squad stood, which positions still needed strengthening, and any difficulties they were encountering operationally.
The aim, Brown explained, was to ensure the club could deliver the “support required” and speed up preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Despite being asked on multiple occasions, the report never materialised. “That report was requested on more than one occasion but was never received,” Brown stated, adding that Defoe’s public and private feedback had consistently been upbeat, making the sudden unravelling all the more unexpected.
The situation escalated further when a formal meeting was arranged between the club’s directors, the manager, his assistant and the head of operations to assess pre-season readiness. Neither Defoe nor Bracewell showed up. Both were also absent from that day’s training session.
Jermain Defoe had lost just one of his six matches in charge of Woking | GETTY
Brown made his frustration clear with a pointed remark. “Every football club faces challenges,” he said. “Players want more game time, improved contracts or transfers.
“The media team might want better equipment, the medical department more interns, the strength and conditioning staff larger gym space and the car park attendants may want more coffee. But people do not just fail to turn up.”
He also noted that at no point during Defoe’s tenure had the former Tottenham and West Ham forward raised any significant grievances with him directly. “Throughout his tenure, Jermain had never communicated any serious concerns directly to me, so I am not going to speculate on his reasons,” Brown added.
Brown acknowledged that the decision to bring Defoe to the club was his alone. “The recommendation to appoint Jermain as manager was mine, and I take full responsibility for it,” he said, explaining that several meetings had convinced him Defoe was the right candidate to usher in a new chapter. However, he conceded: “As we have seen many times before, success as a player does not always translate into management and leadership.”
The director of football was adamant that Woking had backed their manager fully throughout his brief spell. Recruitment, staffing and footballing decisions were all “heavily influenced” by Defoe, Brown insisted, with the necessary board and operational backing provided at every stage.
To illustrate the point, he highlighted that just days before Defoe’s exit, the club had completed the signing of a player the manager himself had identified — demonstrating support right up until the very end.
Jermain Defoe has been accused of not turning up to training
| GETTY
Defoe broke his silence on Thursday evening via Instagram, stating that “circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position.” He expressed pride in what he, Bracewell and Karl Halabi had been constructing at the club, describing himself as “genuinely gutted” for the players.
He characterised his time at Woking as “an eye-opening managerial experience and one that will undoubtedly make me stronger for the next challenge in my career.”
The former striker also appeared to take a swipe at those within the club. He posted a photograph of himself behind the wheel of a Range Rover with the caption “Who the cap fits, let them wear it” — widely interpreted as a dig at the Woking hierarchy.
Defoe won two and lost one of his six matches in charge, with the Surrey side finishing tenth in the fifth tier last season.
