20/12/22: After a very competitive recruitment process, AFC Rushden & Diamonds are thrilled to confirm the appointment of Chris Nunn as our new First Team Manager.

Beginning his managerial career at Newmarket Town, it was at Biggleswade Town where Chris really made his mark, spending 14 seasons with The Waders. Under his tenure, Chris took Biggleswade from the bottom of the Spartan South Midlands League (Step 5) to Step 3 within 10 years, before establishing the club at that level for many years. After leaving The Waders in January 2022, Chris joined Kempston Rovers in the summer, recruiting an entirely new squad after the club narrowly escaped relegation last season. They currently find themselves comfortably in mid-table in the Southern League Division One Central, having almost eclipsed last season’s points tally with less than half of the season played. Nunn commented: “I’m delighted to be here. I was enjoying it at Kempston, there are some really good people involved there, but in speaking to the new Board at Rushden, I really like them and felt their positivity. The hard work starts now, it’s important we get the supporters and team back together again to unite the Club. I want the players to connect with the supporters, the boardroom and everyone involved with the Club and if we can do that, we can start to turn a corner. We’ve also got to make sure that anyone that comes in to the Club works hard, wants to be here and is prepared to fight. We will beg, steal and borrow every point from now until the end of the season and that’s what I’m here to do. In our situation you have to be prepared to fight and if you’re not, don’t bother coming. The table doesn’t lie, it’s going to be tough, but imagine the feeling if we stay up.”

Chairman Rob Usher commented on Nunn’s appointment: “I’m delighted to be able to welcome Chris to the Club as the new permanent manager of AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Given both the outcome and reception of the two previous appointments, as a Board we were determined to take the necessary time to ensure that we got the process right. I sit here today confident that both the process and the outcome are correct for both the current challenge and future challenges that lie ahead. Chris’s experience of this level of football as well as his knowledge of the local area make him the perfect fit at this point in time. Chris and I are perfectly aligned with the Club’s vision going forward and I know how committed he is to being a success at this football club. Clearly the initial target is to retain our Step 3 status and I ask that you give Chris and the team your unwavering support to give us the best platform to achieve this, starting at Bedford Town on Boxing Day.”

We would like to place on record our thanks to a number of people. Firstly, Matty Vernon and Jordan Williams for stepping in to assist both the Club and the new Board whilst we conducted this process. Both Matty and Jordan did this without a second thought and are a shining example of everything that is great about our Club. Secondly, the players and parents associated with the Academy team that they look after, for essentially putting their season on hold to allow Matty and Jordan to help the first team in its hour of need.

Lastly, we would like to extend our thanks to those at Kempston Rovers for their help and professionalism during this process and wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season.

12/10/23: AFC Rushden & Diamonds can confirm that manager Chris Nunn, alongside his coaching team of Matty Vernon, Jordan Williams and Mick Hunter, have all left the Club by mutual consent, with immediate effect. The decision was reached after a discussion between Chris and Chairman Rob Usher earlier today, at which point it was concluded that it was in the best interests of both parties to part ways. The Club would like to place on record our thanks to Chris, Matty, Jordan and Mick for their hard work over the course of the last 12 months. Whilst results on the pitch haven’t been what we would have hoped or expected, there can be no doubt that Chris and the team have contributed greatly to reunifying the Club after a period of instability and we shall be forever grateful for that.

Chairman Rob Usher commented: “Chris came into the Club at an extremely difficult time and spent a lot of time early on making brave, difficult calls that ultimately helped carve a path for us to get the Club back on the straight and narrow after a challenging period on and off the pitch. Whilst the history books won’t necessarily remember his tenure with us fondly purely from a results perspective, his contribution to the Club from top to bottom inclusive of his work helping us reignite a strong relationship with the Club’s junior section should be remembered fondly. We are sorry to see Chris go but ultimately, both parties felt that this was in the best interests of AFC Rushden & Diamonds at this point in time and as such, we move on.”

“As a Board we have been through this process before and with the benefit of hindsight, the previous process to recruit a manager took too long. Tom Lorraine and Michael Harriman have agreed to take the team for an interim period, with the hope that we can secure a new permanent successor within the next fortnight. We will now begin the process of reaching out to identified options, whilst welcoming applications from elsewhere. We will keep Supporters updated as much as possible.”

13/10/23: Histon FC announced the appointment of Chris Nunn as their new First Team Manager.