Newmarket Town re-appoint Michael Shinn after Jockeys make U-turn

Michael Shinn has literally not known if he was coming or going in recent days.

Newmarket Town sprung a major shock last week with the announcement that they had dispensed of his services.

But then on Saturday the club produced an even bigger surprise when they performed a major U-turn and re-hired the man that they had sacked a mere 72 hours earlier.

The decision was taken to relieve Shinn of his duties following comments that he had made at the end of Newmarket’s recent 4-2 win over Soham Town Rangers, which were picked up by the Veo camera that films matches at the Tristel Stadium.

A statement at the time revealed that the club felt it was an ‘appropriate time to make a change’ in the dugout, while also thanking Shinn for his six years in the job.

However, there was a fresh twist at the weekend with confirmation that Shinn, who has guided the Jockeys to second place in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division, had been reinstated.

A second statement read: “After further investigation and several conciliatory meetings during the week, Newmarket Town FC are happy to announce the reinstatement of Michael Shinn as first-team manager.

“The club are now focused as one on completing its goal of surpassing its highest ever league position and gaining promotion.”

The concern now might be that the recent uncertainty could undo what has been a positive league campaign to date.

But speaking to Suffolk News following his swift return, Shinn said: “I’m confident that it will do the opposite.

“The way the players behaved when the news first come out and the support they showed me, I think this will have only got us all closer together as a group.

“I’m sure we’ll carry on from where we were. We’ve had a good season so far, picked up a lot of points and this will only spur us on more.”

Shinn will take charge of the Jockeys tomorrow when they travel to 17th-placed Ely City (7.45pm).