Thank you coach Frank Nuttall

Coach Frank Nuttall took over as Gor Mahia coach in August of 2014 just when coach Bobby Willianmson had left to take over a new role as Harambee Stars coach. His impact was immediate, not only did Gor Mahia maintain its lead in the league standings, but Nuttall drastically improved the scoring output. Whereas George Odhiambo Blackberry and Dan Sserunkuma were previously not in sync, Nuttall crafted a new tactic, deploying Blackberry on the wings where the latter thrived in his new role as a supplier of quality balls to Sserunkuma and others. The net result was that the Gor Mahia scoring ouput increased significantly.

In 2015 under coach Nuttall, Gor Mahia won the league unbeaten and went on to set new league records for scoring goals, points, wins and goal differential. They are records that are unlikely to be broken any time soon. Gor Mahia also won three titles and almost won the CECAFA cup and GoTV shield in what was the best domestioc season the club has had.

Nuttall also worked under difficult conditions with delayed salaries, players on strike and go slows, and demoralized technical staff. Despite all this, Nuttall was able to keep the playing unit focused and successful. He would end up being voted KPL coach of the year 2015.

Nuttall’s role in Gor Mahia’s success in 2014 and 2015 can therefore not be gainsaid. He was a fan favourite as evidenced by the reaction of fans when they found out that he was being fired. The bone of contention was the Chairman’s demand that Nuttall take a 50% pay cut. No self-respecting professional can accept a such pay cut when a contract was already signed. If he knew his salary was going to be halved, he may not have come to Kenya in the first place. Therefore this was an unreasonable request.

Due to Fan pressure he was promptly re-instated albeit temporarily and continued to work professionally amid a frozen relationship between him and the club executive committee. But the situation became untenable and Nuttall had to leave especially after the club’s poor start to the 2016 season where they went five matches without a win under Nuttall.

Nuttall eventually left for Egypt where he came assistant coach for Zamalek under his friend Alex McLeish.

On behalf of GORMAHIA.NET aka Gor Mahia online supporters branch, we would like to thank Nuttall and wish success in his future endeavours.