A LITTLE more than three months after joining Tilbury FC as the Dockers' new manager, former Northern Ireland international Keith Rowland, and the club have parted company.

Following today's (Saturday, 19 February) 1-0 defeat to Hashtag United, the Isthmian North club released a brief social media message announcing the departure of Rowland and his assistant Glen Robson by 'mutual consent'.

Since taking over at Chadfields following the departure of Marc Harrison and his assistant Liam Wallace, who made way after a disappointing start to the season by Tilbury, Rowland has struggled to make an impact.

Rowland took charge of 16 league and cup matches for Tilbury but won just two of them.

That record was in stark contrast to his message on appointment, when he said: "I really hope to bring success to this well run, fantastic club."

Robson had been brought in to replace Wilson - who had taken temporary charge following the departure of Harrison and Wallace - and won both his games in the hot seat!

Days before his appointment at Tilbury in November last year, Rowland had been axed by one of the borough's other Isthmian North clubs Aveley, in what appeared to be a co-ordinated move with his replacement Danny Scopes being announced soon after Rowlands' departure.

During his time at Aveley, which was disrupted in its latter stages by two Covid-related shutdowns of campaigns when his team were well-placed, Rowland guided Millers though an historic FA Trophy run to the quarter final in the 2019/20 season.

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Rowland's playing career included spells with League clubs AFC Bournemouth, Coventry City, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town, Chesterfield and Barnet, as well as non-League Hornchurch, Redbridge and Welling United. He played 19 times for Northern Ireland.

A statement on social media this evening said: "Following today's fixture Keith Rowland and Glen Robson have left the club by mutual consent. The club would like to thank them both for their services and wish them both well with their family issues."

Rowland has recently spent some time in his native Ireland where his father, who had been battling illness for some time, recently died.