Jermain Defoe’s sudden departure as Woking manager was preceded by a failure to attend a crucial meeting and training session, the club’s director of football has revealed—exposing a breakdown that ended the former England striker’s first managerial role after just four months.
Jody Brown, Woking’s director of football, said there had been “growing concerns” across the club in recent weeks, with feedback from players, staff and other departments. To address this, Brown asked Defoe and assistant Paul Bracewell for a report outlining the squad’s depth, recruitment targets and operational challenges. “That report was requested on more than one occasion but was never received,” Brown said in a statement.
“Woking director Jody Brown says Jermain Defoe missed a meeting and training before his shock departure after four months.”
A meeting was then scheduled with directors, the manager, assistant manager and head of operations to review pre-season preparations. “Neither Jermain nor his assistant attended that meeting or that day’s training session,” Brown added. “Throughout his tenure, Jermain had never communicated any serious concerns directly to me, so I am not going to speculate on his reasons.”
Defoe, 43, was appointed Woking manager at the end of March, replacing Neal Ardley. He oversaw two wins and one defeat in six league matches, along with two pre-season friendlies, before the club and the former Premier League striker “mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect” on Thursday. Defoe described his stint as “an eye-opening managerial experience” and said it was “impossible for me to continue”. He scored 20 goals in 57 England appearances and 305 in 763 senior club games for West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth and Sunderland before retiring in 2022.
Brown, who said he took responsibility for appointing Defoe because he “believed he was the right person to lead the club into an exciting new era”, acknowledged that “success as a player does not always translate into management and leadership”. He added: “I sincerely hope to see him succeed in whichever direction he follows.”
The exit came two weeks before Woking’s opening match of the new National League season against Sutton United.