'Sprinklergate' football club hires new boss

Non-league football club King's Lynn Town have replaced their manager following a turbulent three weeks.

The Norfolk side made international headlines last month when footage emerged showing a sprinkler in operation at the ground.

The CCTV was allegedly captured on 13 February - hours before the club postponed its next-day fixture against South Shields due to a waterlogged pitch.

Manager Ian Culverhouse - who had said he was "sick to death" of leaks from inside the club - has been replaced with former Birmingham City defender Paul Caddis.

The 37-year-old recently managed Hereford FC in the National League North.

"Paul brings energy, character and experience of this division, and we believe he is the right person to guide the team through this period," said chief executive Bal Srai.

"We know this has been a frustrating season for our supporters and we fully understand the strength of feeling around recent results.

"Right now our focus is very simple: The remaining matches and securing the results we need."

The club announced Culverhouse's dismissal on Wednesday, before revealing Caddis as his replacement on Thursday morning.

They thanked Culverhouse and assistant manager Paul Bastock for their efforts but said it "was the right time to make a change".

The team's 2-1 defeat at home to Oxford City left them five points above the relegation zone in National League North.

After the match, in an interview with the BBC, he hit back at critics.

"What we've got is people that have previously been associated with this football club that have got nothing better to do in their lives than sit at home, make up false accounts, false emails, to try and damage this football club," said Culverhouse.

"I'm sick to death with everything that goes on at this football club getting leaked out by people not associated and it's got to stop."

Following the anonymous release of the footage showing the sprinkler allegedly in action, the National League said it was investigating.

Two weeks later, the Linnets said they were running their own inquiry as well, and a spokesperson said: "We take our regulatory responsibilities extremely seriously and have made all required reports to the league.

"We will continue to cooperate fully throughout this process."

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