Maamria upset at 'abrupt' end to Barrow job

Former Barrow head coach Dino Maamria says he is disappointed not to have been given the chance to lead the Bluebirds to safety in League Two.

Maamria left the club on Wednesday after just six games in charge with Barrow only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

In his first role since leaving Burton Albion in December 2023, the Tunisian collected four points from those matches after replacing Paul Gallagher, who was sacked after an even briefer five-game reign, losing all of them.

In a statement released through the League Managers' Association, Maamria said, external: "I was confident and had every belief that we would complete the job of maintaining the club's EFL status, which makes it even more disappointing not to have been given the chance to finish that work."

Barrow have now appointed midfielder Sam Foley as player-head coach until the end of the season. His first game in charge is at home to Accrington Stanley on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Maamria described it as "an abrupt end" with his spell at Holker End only lasting 28 days.

He said he inherited a squad low on confidence after a poor run of form of one win in 16 games which had accounted for Gallagher's departure and that of previous head coach Andy Whing in December.

Although results did not improve massively during his tenure, Barrow were hit by conceding goals in the 89th minute or later in three matches, costing them six points.

Despite that and "very limited training time" available, 54-year-old Maamria thinks that stepping stones were being put in place to pull away from trouble.

"What gave me the greatest belief was the reaction of the players," he added.

"Their attitude, commitment and the emotional messages many of them have sent me over the last 48 hours meant a great deal to me. In a short space of time we built a strong connection and a shared belief in where the team was heading."