James Rowe has resigned as manager of AFC Fylde after being charged with sexual assault. The 39-year-old, who signed a three-year deal to join the club in March this year, is due to appear in court on November 7.
A short statement released on the club’s website this Thursday read: “Following a meeting this afternoon, the board have accepted James Rowe’s resignation as manager of the club. Andy Taylor will take temporary charge until a new manager is appointed.”
Rowe left his previous job as manager of Chesterfield earlier this year by mutual consent, following an investigation into allegations of misconduct. He had been suspended by the club, who sat top of the National League at the time, two weeks prior to leaving.
On Wednesday, Derbyshire Police released a statement which read: “A man has been charged with sexual assault.
“In January this year, officers received a report of a man having sexually assaulted a woman in Chesterfield, with the offence alleged to have taken place in November 2021. James Rowe, 39, of Breaston, in Derby, has now been charged and is due to appear before magistrates at Chesterfield Justice Centre on Monday, November 7.”
In March, Fylde said of their decision to appoint Rowe via club chairman David Haythornthwaite: “We have done our due diligence on James. And while it is clear he is no shrinking violet, we are confident that James will bring a winning mentality to the club, which we all want.”
In the same month, Chesterfield vice-chairman Martin Thacker told AGM: “We would not want to get rid of a manager that has got this team top of the league unless there was good reason to have to part company. The difficulty for us is that it is not appropriate for us to disclose the elements of what happened, the allegations, the insinuations, and all the things that were put to us.”
Last campaign, Rowe led Chesterfield to an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Premier League heavyweights were 4-0 up by half-time and went on to win the game 5-1, with the Spireites’ boss suspended just over two weeks later.
AFC Fylde, who sit one division below Chesterfield, are currently one point off top spot in National League North after a 2-2 draw with Spennymoor Town on Tuesday. Last season they finished third but missed out on promotion via the play-offs.
Rowe had previously held posts as assistant manager at Aldershot Town and boss of Gloucester City. The ex-forward spent his playing career in non-league with the likes of Leamington and AFC Sudbury.
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