Ards sack manager Matthew Tipton after a run of six games without a win

Matthew Tipton has been sacked by Ards

Ards have sacked manager Matthew Tipton after a run of six games without a win, leaving the club 10th in the Playr-Fit Championship.

The Clandeboye Park side came into the season with ambitions of reaching the Premiership, however have fallen on tough times, particularly during their recent barren run over the last six games, with their only points coming in a Boxing Day draw against Bangor.

Instead, they are 18 points back of Championship leaders Dundela having played three games more and, while they are safe from relegation given bottom side Knockbreda have just four points, in any other season they would be at risk of the drop.

“I would like to thank Matthew for his efforts over the last two years. I have enjoyed working with him, however we felt that it was time for a change in direction,” said club chairman Warren Patton.

Tipton joined Ards in February 2022, replacing John Bailie at the club and helping them into the top half of the table, eventually finishing third and just two points off a promotion play-off place behind Dundela.

However, while the ambition was to go at least one step further and get into the play-off, or earn automatic promotion by winning the division outright, it has instead been a season of disappointment for the club.

Ards would fail to pick up a win until their fifth game of the campaign, a 3-2 win at Knockbreda, and although that seemed to spark some form as wins followed against Dergview and Dundela, consistency would be hard to come by for the Clandeboye men.

Now it has cost Tipton, who has been let go, with the club now searching for their next manager ahead of Saturday’s massive Irish Cup clash away to defending champions Crusaders.