Former Brackley Town boss Jon Brady was hours away from being St Albans City manager

St Albans City were just two hours from naming former Brackley Town boss Jon Brady as their new manager.

The revelation came from co-owner Lawrence Levy as he addressed a fans forum at Clarence Park on Thursday night.

The move came days after joint managers Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds resigned from their posts.

He said: “At the time I phoned up Jon Brady and said ‘do you fancy having a chat’.

“I had several meetings with him and he was at the next two games.

“He said it was a squad he could work with.”

But just two hours before he was due to be revealed, he had second thoughts, saying “something was just not right”.

Saints did have a second choice but decided to turn to Harry Wheeler.

Levy said: “He pitched himself to me and said I can do this. He said he would have to make changes but he really wanted it.

“So I said ‘Let’s give it a go’.”

After what has been a turbulent season so far, concerned fans also asked the owner about the development squad who have pulled out the league.

Levy said a number were training with various clubs including London Colney, Colney Heath and Harpenden Town and that Oran Swales had joined Kings Langley on loan.

Levy spoke briefly about the club’s hopes to move to a new ground, saying he was “disappointed” that there was no mention of them in the strategic local plan issued by the council.

He then handed over to Wheeler and director of football Adam Lee, who was fresh from watching a game in Stevenage.

The pair both said “there was no tomorrow” in terms of St Albans’ league position and that character and desire of the players had to improve.

They also said that they only want players who were prepared to fight for the cause and for supporters to expect more signings.

The meeting finished with a call from the supporters group to back the new management, a sentiment met with a round of applause.