Russ Penn: Kidderminster Harriers sack manager with club bottom of National League
- Published
Former Harriers player Penn returned to Aggborough in 2018 before becoming manager in 2020
Kidderminster Harriers have sacked manager Russ Penn following a run of four defeats in their last five games.
Penn, 38, had been in charge since February 2020, following a short spell as interim boss the previous year.
He led them to promotion last season but they are currently bottom of the National League table.
Penn's departure comes only three weeks after former Wimbledon and Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth was named as Harriers' first technical director.
"This is a difficult decision to have taken," said Harriers chairman Richard Lane. "But one we feel is necessary in our current circumstances."
At three years and just under four months, Penn, whose departure was officially announced by the club late on Sunday, was the longest-serving Harriers manager since Steve Burr was sacked on exactly the same day - 7 January - after four years in charge exactly a decade ago.
In fact, Harriers have now sacked four of their last eight managers on 7 January - Penn, Neil McFarlane,, external Dave Hockaday and Burr.
After two years on Scunthorpe United's books, Penn made 162 appearances for Harriers from 2005 to 2009 during a playing career which also took him to Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town, York City, Carlisle United, Wrexham and Gateshead.
He returned to Aggborough as player-coach under Neil McFarlane in November 2018 and then served under three other bosses, Mark Yates, John Pemberton and Jimmy Shan, before becoming manager himself in April 2020.
Penn enjoyed a fine run to the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2021-22, when Harriers beat Reading in round three and were then only denied victory over West Ham United by an injury-time Declan Rice equaliser.
Despite finishing 24 points behind second-placed King's Lynn last season, Penn then led Harriers to promotion from National League North, after coming from nowhere to win their last nine matches on the trot.
But they have only won four out of 28 league games this term - and Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Rochdale left them two points below AFC Fylde and seven adrift of safety.
Penn's assistant Jimmy O'Connor will remain in post to provide some kind of transition between Penn and his successor.
Harriers' next two matches are at home, against Altrincham in the FA Trophy on Saturday, followed by Aldershot in the league on 20 January.