'People do not just fail to turn up' - Woking hit back at Defoe after exit
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- Jermain Defoe mutually terminated his contract as Woking head coach on Thursday after just four months and six games (two wins, one loss) in his first managerial role at age 43.
- Woking director of football Jody Brown claimed Defoe didn't attend a scheduled meeting with directors or that day's training session, and never delivered a report on squad depth, recruitment targets, and operational challenges despite multiple requests.
- Brown said "growing concerns" had emerged from players, staff, and other departments in recent weeks, and that Defoe had never communicated any serious concerns directly to him during his tenure.
- Defoe said in an Instagram post that circumstances made it "impossible for me to continue" and called the job an "eye-opening managerial experience," thanking club owner Todd Johnson for the opportunity.
- Brown took "full responsibility" for recommending Defoe's appointment but said "success as a player does not always translate into management and leadership," while defending the club as "fully committed" to supporting him.
- Defoe had previously aimed to get Woking promoted to the EFL, saying he believed they could "do something special" after a 0-0 draw with Braintree Town in his second match.
Why it matters: Woking's public airing of Defoe's alleged no-show — including Brown's pointed quote that "people do not just fail to turn up" — turns a quiet parting into an acrimonious split less than six months into the former England striker's first managerial role, leaving the National League club to find a new boss mid-pre-season.
