York City’s record-breaking manager Stuart Maynard has been sacked 13 weeks after he guided the team back into the Football League for the first time in a decade.
Maynard’s departure has left City fans reeling, coming eight days before the men’s team’s first competitive fixture of the new season, against Crawley in the cup, on Monday, 3 August.
There had been growing rumours on the main fans forum and social media that the sacking was imminent.
The news was confirmed with a Facebook post by the club at 3.27pm today (Sunday) by co-owners Julie-Anne and Matt Uggla. It said:
“York City Football Club can confirm that Stuart Maynard will be leaving his role as First Team Manager, with immediate effect.
“This has not been an easy decision, and it is not one the board has taken lightly. Ultimately, it comes down to a difference in direction and vision for the football club.
“We recognise that, from the outside, this may look like a strange or difficult decision to understand.
“But we believe that in the long term, the football club will be in a stronger position because of it, another step towards the vision we, as custodians of this club, believe will deliver sustained success.
“Like every one of you, we love this football club, and we would never make a decision we didn’t believe was in its best long-term interests.
“We hope our track record of improving year on year has earned us a degree of trust, and we understand that not everyone will agree with, or fully understand, this decision right away.
“We would like to thank Stuart for his contribution to York City FC and wish him well for the future.”
Manager of the season
The sacking mirrors the dismissal of the previous manager and another fan favourite Adam Hinshelwood just a few games into the season last August.
Maynard was named National League Manager of the Season 2025-26 after an incredible campaign.
Appointed on 28 August, he saw City promoted as champions after a last-gasp equaliser against promotion rivals Rochdale in an extraordinary match on the final day of the season.
They took the title with a club-record breaking 108 points, scoring a club-record 114 goals in the process.
But this has not proved enough for co-owners Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla.
They are hoping that the fact their decision to replace Hinshelwood with Maynard last year was vindicated by results will see fans cut them some slack over the sudden dismissal.
The main response from fans was one of shock.
One thanked Maynard for the promotion and “for playing the best football I’ve ever seen here”.
He added: “I defended the owners decision to sack Hinsh. Ultimately clear cracks were showing In his management at the time and I never truly forgave him for the Oldham debacle.
“This one I just can’t for the reasons mentioned above and the fact there’s a week to go before the season starts! Of course without the Ugglas we’d never be where we are so we have to get behind the team but this next appointment has to be as good as the decision to appoint Hinsh and Maynard or serious questions will be asked!”
Here are some other first reactions:
“Sacking someone who has 5 losses and a history making season – make it make sense? Board need to share the full story here… not what the team needs 8 days out from season start“
“I do hope there’s some epic manager incoming. Teams that climb year on year do it through consistency, all the ones I remember in recent times have done it with the same manager.”
“Having watched the team play in Spain, and sat around the squad during the games, I couldn’t see this coming. There was good camaraderie, and the new players blended in well. If Maynard knew anything it didn’t show.”
“Big shock. Must be looking for something special, sad to lose Maynard though. It was the same with Hinshelwood. However I am a mere observer, I am sure The Ugglas are not silly with their decisions, we wait and see.”
“The board have let the club, players fans and City down. It’s a stupid decision so close to the season starting, they should have wound their necks in and given the manager who got us promoted and gave us a record points goals etc season their support.“
“Maybe we need to accept that we are operating under a Chelsea type model. Bit of continuity wouldn’t go amiss, but this might be how we go forward, the Ugglas haven’t let us down so far have they.“
