'People do not just fail to turn up' - Woking hit back at Defoe after exit
Jermain Defoe: Woking claim former England and Tottenham striker didn't turn up for meeting and training before shock exit Jermain Defoe left his role as...
Key points
- Jermain Defoe: Woking claim former England and Tottenham striker didn't turn up for meeting and training before shock exit Jermain Defoe left his role as Woking head coach on Thursday after just four months and six games in charge; Defoe claimed in a statement it was "impossible to continue" in his position; Woking director of football says Defoe didn't turn up for a meeting and training Saturday 25 July 2026 11:26, UK Woking's director of football Jody Brown claims Jermain Defoe didn't turn up for a meeting and training before he left his role as head coach after just four months in charge.
- Defoe had his contract at the National League club mutually terminated on Thursday, having only taken his first managerial role in March, winning two and losing one of his six matches.
- But in an extraordinary statement on Saturday morning, Woking's Brown hit back at Defoe, saying "success as a player does not always translate into management and leadership" and that there were "growing concerns" within the club during pre-season.
- "The recommendation to appoint Jermain as manager was mine, and I take full responsibility for it," Brown said.
What happened
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Jermain Defoe: Woking claim former England and Tottenham striker didn't turn up for meeting and training before shock exit Jermain Defoe left his role as Woking head coach on Thursday after just four months and six games in charge; Defoe claimed in a statement it was "impossible to continue" in his position; Woking director of football says Defoe didn't turn up for a meeting and training Saturday 25 July 2026 11:26, UK Woking's director of football Jody Brown claims Jermain Defoe didn't turn up for a meeting and training before he left his role as head coach after just four months in charge. Defoe had his contract at the National League club mutually terminated on Thursday, having only taken his first managerial role in March, winning two and losing one of his six matches. But in an extraordinary statement on Saturday morning, Woking's Brown hit back at Defoe, saying "success as a player does not always translate into management and leadership" and that there were "growing concerns" within the club during pre-season. "The recommendation to appoint Jermain as manager was mine, and I take full responsibility for it," Brown said. "I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my...