Stuart Bimson - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

He had a chastening start to his managerial career, suffering a 5-1 away defeat to Lewes followed by a 4-0 thumping at Havant & Waterlooville but secured a 3-1 victory over Thurrock in the next game, his first home match as manager. Although Bedford would finish the season bottom of the Conference South and secure just three victories and three draws in Bimson's 15 games in charge, they finished the season with two victories and two draws in their final four games and this upturn in form saw Bimson handed the manager's post on a permanent basis.

Bimson's first full season in charge saw the Eagles suffer a second relegation as they finished 19th in the Southern Football League Premier Division; the club would later escape relegation following the demise of Nuneaton Borough. Bimson, however, was spared the sack and tasked with rebuilding the side. However, in July, he resigned his post to join Cambridge United as first team coach linking up with his long-term friend Gary Brabin who had been newly appointed as manger of the Us. However, budgetary constraints saw Bimson leave his post at the end of his one-year contract. Still eager to return to management, he applied to become the manager of former club Lincoln City in the wake of Peter Jackson's sacking in September 2009 but was not interviewed for the post. He acted as a scout for Barrow during the 2009-2010 season and from September 2010 he worked as acting assistant manager to Ken McKenna at Altrincham, their first game being the 5-0 Football Conference defeat at Eastbourne Borough on 18 September 2010. After four weeks in the acting capacity he became assistant manager On 14 October 2010 but left at the end of the season following the club's relegation from the Football Conference. In July 2012, he joined the youth set-up at Southend United, becoming Centre of Excellence Development Coach.