Becoming club chief was unexpected, says player

Michael Clunan, a 32-year-old midfielder at King’s Lynn Town FC, was appointed interim chief executive as the club implements structural changes. The club said he will oversee day-to-day operations and strategic direction. Clunan said the role was not expected, but he viewed it as valuable experience that could positively affect next season. He previously developed through Norwich City’s academy and has played non-league football for clubs including Scunthorpe United and Lowestoft Town, while captaining King’s Lynn during a season that avoided relegation trouble. He also has accountancy experience outside football and said he will keep full focus on playing for a few years. The club had a difficult previous season with managerial changes and a fine related to sprinkler use and a waterlogged pitch, but a final-day draw secured their place in the next tier.

"Michael Clunan, a 32-year-old midfielder at King's Lynn Town FC, has taken on the top job as the owners of the sixth-tier Norfolk side implement structural changes this summer. The club said he would "oversee the club's day-to-day operations and strategic direction". Clunan said: "This is not something that was anticipated, but when the role was proposed to me, I thought it would be good experience and would help hopefully impact next season in a positive way.""

"Clunan came through the academy system at Norwich City but has played in the upper echelons of non-league football in England for clubs including Scunthorpe United and Lowestoft Town. He has played much of his football for King's Lynn and captained the club as they stayed clear of relegation trouble in National League North last season. The player, who has experience in accountancy outside of the game, said he still had "full focus on playing for a few years" while taking on the position temporarily."

"The King's Lynn-born player said the team's previous season, including two changes of manager, had been "messy", adding: "That is no one's fault in particular". The Linnets faced the prospect of relegation going into the final game against Chester, but a 0-0 draw secured their place at step two of the non-league pyramid next season. "Ultimately, we managed to stay in the division in the last day of the season, but I am looking forward to watching the manager rebuild the team and hopefully that will gain some excitement and trust back from the fans which we probably lost this year," Clunan said."

"Last month the club was fined 10,000 for turning on its sprinklers and then postponing a game due to a waterlogged pitch. "As a football club we failed them and failed to deliver on and off of the pitch, and we were lucky""

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