This morning, Boston United announced the appointment of former Newport County manager Graham Coughlan, confirming the conclusion of their three-week hiring process.
After splitting from promotion-winning manager Ian Culverhouse at the end of October, the Pilgrims have been without a manager ever since. Coughlan has been tasked with maintaining Boston in the National League after a rigorous recruitment process, the National League club stated this morning.
Who is Graham Coughlan?Â
Born in Dublin, Coughlan played center back for 11 different teams, including Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday, and Plymouth Argyle, making over 400 games. In 2018, he made his coaching debut as the defense coach for Bristol Rovers.
During the Gasheads’ League One season in January 2019, the 50-year-old was named first-team manager. Coughlan accepted an invitation to take over at League Two Mansfield Town after a year in charge, but he left the Nottinghamshire team less than a year into his tenure due to a 15% win percentage.
A gap from first-team management followed before the former central defender was signed by Newport in 2022 to secure survival in League Two. After 18 months with the Exiles, they had a 35% win rate and were tied with Manchester United in the FA Cup Fourth Round the previous season. At the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Coughlan left the South Wales team by mutual consent.
After being named manager of Boston, a National League relegation candidate, this morning, Coughlan has now been tasked with salvaging a team from relegation once more.
Boston United’s season so far
Boston began their first season in the top non-league division since 2002 after being promoted from the National League North through the playoffs the previous season. The Pilgrims haven’t had a great start to their National League season despite being promoted.
After 18 games, the Lincolnshire team is currently in 23rd place with 11 points. With their two wins this season coming away from home against York City and Sutton United, Coughlan’s new team is yet to win at home.
With the 22nd-worst goal-scoring record (average of 0.9 goals per game) and the 20th-worst goal-allowing record (average of 1.7 goals per game), Boston’s statistics are also not encouraging. The victors of the National League North play-offs also suffered a humiliating FA Cup defeat, falling to seventh-tier Gainsborough Trinity 4-0 at home in their replay.
What could Coughlan bring to Boston United?Â
The former manager of Mansfield and Newport is renowned for establishing teams built on perseverance, hard effort, and teamwork. Boston may be in a position where Coughlan’s ruthlessness and dependence on transition play are appropriate.
The former Newport manager may exploit the Pilgrims’ 44.2% possession average thus far this season to instill some defensive stability and resiliency when the team is out of possession. In his interview following his appointment as manager, the 50-year-old emphasized the buy-in he seeks from every member of the club:
